U-17 AFCON: South Africa coach vows to fight in "Group of Death"
- Peter Kanjere
- Mar 31
- 1 min read
South Africa under-17 boys national team coach Vela Khumalo has vowed that his charges are ready to compete at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite being placed in a "Group of Death".
Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation ahead of Monday’s Group B opener against Egypt, Khumalo said he was aware of the challenge ahead of them in Morocco.
"Much as everyone is saying it is a group of death, we are happy that we are counted as one of the best in that group and we are going to showcase our talent,” he said.
The Kaizer Chiefs reserve team coach then reserved praise for Amajimbos quality, saying they were capable of qualifying for the World Cup finals.
“The most important thing is the mentality and character. We want to qualify for the World Cup. We want to be counted among the 10 teams that will qualify for the world cup," he added.
Khumalo's charges are competing in Group B also comprising Burkina Faso and two-time champions, Cameroon. South Africa are making their fifth appearance at the Under-17 AFCON finals.
Amajimbos hope to emulate their feat of 2015 when they reached the final only to lose to Mali in Niger. South Africa last participated in the Under-17 AFCON in 2023 where they reached the quarterfinals.
