Raymond Mdaka names final South Africa squad for 2026 COSAFA U-20 qualifiers

Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka has confirmed his final 23-man squad for the 2026 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA qualifiers, which begin in Mozambique on Friday and run until 27 September.

South Africa, the defending champions, will start their Group B campaign against Lesotho on Saturday before facing Angola three days later. They will complete the group stage against Eswatini on 23 September.

The two finalists at the regional tournament will qualify for the U20 AFCON.

Fletcher Smythe-Lowe has been left out of the final selection, while Kaizer Chiefs pair Takalani Mazhamba and Keabetswe Morake have been included among the goalkeepers travelling to Maputo.

Unattached midfielder Lazola Maku has also made the squad, as has Cape Town City winger Emile Witbooi.

Sundowns youngster Bennet Mokoena, who featured in the preliminary squad, was not selected for the final group.

The final squad contains 23 players.