Source: @Facebook/SAFA

Amajita finished the COSAFA U20 tournament exactly as they started it: unbeaten and holding the trophy. Their 2-1 victory over Mozambique in Sunday’s final in Maputo gave Amajita a second successive regional title and completed a five-match winning run.

The scoreline also reflects a final in which Mozambique made South Africa work for the result. The hosts had already shown enough during the knockout rounds to suggest they would be a serious test, and they matched Amajita for long periods at ABB Stadium.

Oarabile Booysen broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a long-range strike, but Mozambique responded almost immediately. Martinho Comecar restored parity just two minutes later.

The decisive moment came 13 minutes after half-time. Steven Mendes converted from the penalty spot to put South Africa back in front, and this time Mozambique could not find another equaliser.

Mendes leads South Africa’s charge

Mendes finished the tournament with six goals, enough to claim the Golden Boot. His two penalties in the semi-final against Zambia had already played a major role in South Africa’s 4-2 victory, and he added another from the spot in the final.

His scoring record formed part of a wider attacking contribution from a South African side that scored 13 times across the tournament. Amajita also conceded only three goals, with their three group-stage victories all ending in clean sheets.

Takalani Mazhamba’s performances behind that defence earned him the Golden Glove, while Booysen ended the competition with two goals. The numbers point to a team that had enough attacking output to win games without sacrificing defensive control.

Mozambique’s route to the final was far less comfortable. After losing 1-0 to Namibia in the group stage, the hosts advanced as the best runner-up after finishing level with Angola on six points and identical goal records. Their superior Fair Play record gave them the semi-final place.

They then produced their best performance of the tournament, beating Namibia 3-0 with goals from Comecar, Diego Pelembe and Hissen Socrate. Alírio Cuna was another major contributor, scoring five times and collecting the Player of the Tournament award.

The hosts ultimately had to settle for second, but their run gives Mozambique a place at the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations alongside South Africa.

Zambia completed the podium after beating Namibia 3-0 in the third-place play-off. Gift Mumbi opened the scoring, while Sipho Muntanga added two more goals to finish the tournament strongly after Zambia’s semi-final defeat to South Africa.

Across 22 matches, the COSAFA U20 competition produced 73 goals, an average of 3.32 per game. South Africa leave Mozambique with the trophy, while they and the hosts now have the larger continental test ahead in Ghana in 2027