South Africa’s U15 Boys National Team have made a strong impression at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, finishing second in Group A after a five-match qualification campaign that produced three wins, one draw and one defeat.
Coached by Selekedi Mogale, the young South Africans showcased their attacking quality throughout the opening phase, scoring 25 goals and conceding just five. Their performances earned them 10 points and secured second place in Group A, behind Estonia, while France finished third on goal difference.
The tournament has provided a unique platform for young players from around the world, with the competition played in an eight-a-side format consisting of two 20-minute halves.
South Africa 8-0 Maldives
AmaCocomelons began their campaign in emphatic fashion, producing an outstanding 8-0 victory over the Maldives on 24 October. South Africa wasted little time asserting their dominance, controlling the match and finding the back of the net eight times without conceding. The result gave Mogale’s side the perfect start and immediately highlighted their attacking potential.
Kosovo 2-1 South Africa
The second match brought South Africa their only defeat of the qualification phase as Kosovo edged them 2-1. Despite the setback, they responded positively and showed the resilience required to remain competitive in a demanding group.
South Africa 13-1 Anguilla
South Africa bounced back in spectacular fashion against Anguilla, recording a remarkable 13-1 victory. The emphatic result saw AmaCocomelons score 13 goals in a dominant attacking display, taking their tournament tally to 22 goals after just three matches. Tshiamo Mashishi and Camden Schaper both completed hat-tricks, with Mashishi continuing his impressive goalscoring run after his brace against the Maldives. The victory restored South Africa’s momentum ahead of their final two matches against Estonia and France.
Estonia 0-0 South Africa
They then faced a more difficult challenge against Estonia, with the two sides playing to a goalless draw. South Africa were unable to find a way through a well-organised Estonian defence, but the point proved valuable in their battle for a top-two finish in Group A. Estonia ultimately finished top of the group unbeaten.
South Africa 3-2 France
South Africa ended the qualification stage on a high, producing one of their most impressive performances of the tournament by defeating group leaders France 3-2. The victory was particularly significant as France entered the encounter among the leading sides in Group A. South Africa showed character and attacking intent to claim all three points and finish the qualification phase with a statement victory.
After five matches, South Africa finished second in Group A with 10 points, recording three victories, one draw and one defeat. Their 25 goals scored and only five conceded gave them an impressive +20 goal difference, underlining just how effective they were in front of goal. Estonia topped the group with 11 points, while France also finished on 10 points but placed third because of South Africa’s superior goal difference.
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| 📸Football Stage (Group Stage Scorers - Tshiamo Mashishi & Lesedi Hlalele have 5 goals each) |
Although the second-place finish means South Africa will not compete in Tier A, the tournament format ensures that their campaign continues, with the team now moving into Tier B. South Africa’s next challenge will be against Malaysia in the Tier B Round of 32. Malaysia also finished second in their qualification group, Group H, collecting 10 points from five matches. They recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat, scoring 12 goals and conceding four. Their results included victories over Dominica, Ethiopia, Hungary and Syria, with a draw against Mexico. The meeting with Malaysia will therefore provide another important test for Mogale’s side as they look to build on an encouraging first phase.
For South Africa, the objective will be to carry the confidence from their 3-2 victory over France and the attacking momentum generated by their big wins over the Maldives and Anguilla into the knockout phase. With 25 goals already scored, AmaCocomelons have demonstrated that they possess the firepower to trouble any opposition. The challenge now will be maintaining their defensive discipline and consistency as the competition moves into the decisive stages.
The inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival continues through the tournament stage, with performance Tiers action scheduled from 28–30 October, before the tier finals. For Mogale and his young squad, the Malaysia clash represents another opportunity to gain valuable international experience, test themselves against different opposition and continue South Africa’s impressive journey in Baku.
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