South Africa have landed a tricky draw for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup to be staged in Qatar from November 3-27.
Amajimbos have been pooled in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Italy and Bolivia for the global showpiece with none of the teams having been at the last edition in 2023.
Of the four teams, Italy and Qatar are the teams who have come closest to winning the title with the European side finishing fourth in 1987 while the 2023 hosts were also fourth in 1991.
It will be a tricky test for Vela Khumalo’s team who sealed their place in the global tournament after finishing second in their U17 Africa Cup of Nations group in Morocco last month.
Amajimbos rode their luck to seal World Cup ticket
South Africa made it to U17 AFCON even after failing to qualify for the tournament, joining 2024 COSAFA finalist Zambia and Angola as the representatives of the region, after the Confederation of African Football extended the number of participating nations to 16 from the initial 12.
South Africa had narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 15th edition of the junior AFCON after falling to Zambia in the 2024 COSAFA U17 Championships semi-finals, which were played in December 2024.
They, however, grabbed the chance with both hands as they did just enough to qualify for the World Cup alongside nine other African nations.
