South Africa’s U20 national teams are heading into the 2025 Region 5 Games in Windhoek with confidence and history on their side. The tournament, running from 4–13 July, will see both the men’s (Amajita) and women’s (Basetsana) teams aiming to retain their dominance in the region.
Amajita Return as Defending Champions
Fresh from their 2024 triumph in Mozambique, Amajita arrive in Namibia as the team to beat. They’ve been riding a wave of momentum since clinching their first-ever African U20 Championship title in Egypt in May 2025.
Their campaign kicks off with a clash against Zambia on 5 July, followed by group matches against Botswana (7 July) and Eswatini (9 July). With nine regional titles under their belt—dating back to their first in 2000—South Africa remains the most successful side in the competition’s history.
They’ve also qualified for the continental U20 showpiece nine times, winning silver in 1997 and making history in 2023 by clinching gold.
Recent U20 COSAFA Tournament Track Record:
- 2017 & 2018: Back-to-back champions
- 2019: Lost the final to Zambia
- 2020: Group stage exit despite a 7-0 win over Lesotho
- 2022: Finished third
- 2024: Dominant campaign—5-0 over Malawi, 6-0 vs Lesotho, 2-0 vs Comoros, and a 2-0 final win over Zambia
Basetsana Also Eye Gold in Windhoek
The women’s U20 side, Basetsana, are determined to reclaim their Region 5 Games title after finishing as runners-up in 2024. Their campaign starts on 4 July alongside their male counterparts.
South Africa has won all three Region 5 U20 women’s titles from 2014 to 2018, with players like Linda Motlhalo paving the way. In 2019, they secured third at the COSAFA U20 Women’s Championship, and in 2024, they settled for silver after a 3-0 loss to Zambia in the final round-robin match.
Despite their regional dominance, Basetsana are yet to qualify for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, narrowly missing out on five occasions. The Region 5 Games will serve as crucial preparation ahead of their CAF U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Eswatini in September.
What Lies Ahead
With strong squads, a rich legacy, and silverware on their minds, both Amajita and Basetsana are heading to Namibia with high expectations. As defending champions, they’ll not only fight for gold but also continue to build towards bigger continental and global goals.
