The South Africa national development football team, is a development football (soccer) team, which represents South Africa and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. The team's main objective is to give international exposure to home-based players, by allowing them to play 'B-level' internationals. Since the advent of the African Nations Championship, the team now attempts to qualify for and play at the event.
Since 2008 SAFA have sent the team to the COSAFA Cup, instead of the senior team. The team has played at one African Nations Championship and thirteen COSAFA Cups.
Player eligibility African Championship of Nations regulations require teams to be made up only of players from the association's national leagues. As the team is not an official national team, and does not play in FIFA sanctioned tournaments, clubs are not required to release players for matches. Usually the only Premier Soccer League players released are non-squad members. Many players are selected from the National First Division (second tier) and Vodacom League (third tier).
Match status Matches played by the team are not classified as 'A-level' internationals. Thus caps awarded for matches do not count as senior national team caps. Matches played by the team also do not count towards FIFA ranking points, even when the team plays other countries' senior national teams.
Recent and future matches 2025
Tournament records African Nations Championship record African Nations ChampionshipAppearances: 3YearRoundPosition* 2009Did not qualify 2011Quarter-finals6th 430164 2014 Group stage9th311155 2016Did not qualify 2018 2020 2022 2024Group stage10th413065TotalQuarter-finals3/7115421714
COSAFA Cup record Hosts/YearResultGPWD*LGSGA 2008Champions330041 2009Fourth Place311132 2013Third Place321042 2015Quarter-finals101000 2016Champions321094 2017Quarter-finals100101 2018Quarter-finals101000 2019Quarter-finals101022 2021Champions642090 2022Quarter-finals101000 2023Third Place522165 2024Group stage312321 2025Runners-Up521255Total3 titles
Before the 2008 tournament, SAFA sent the senior team.
Honours COSAFA Cup: 2008, 2016, 2021
Prior to 2008, SAFA sent the senior national team to the COSAFA Cup.
References
External links South Africa FA official website