Picture: SA U23 Men’s head coach, Raymond Mdaka
By REGINALD KANYANE
2 November 2026 – South African U23 Men’s head coach, Raymond Mdaka has announced a 24-man squad to face Madagascar in back-to-back CAF Africa Cup of Nations/Olympic Games qualifiers next month. With Madagascar not having venues suitable for the competition, the two third-round matches will be played in South Africa at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville in Pretoria.
The first leg, which is a “home” fixture for the visitors, will take place on 14 November 2026, at 3pm, while the return leg will be hosted by the SA U23 squad on 17 November with an 8pm kick off. Mdaka has kept the bulk of the team that faced Algeria in two friendly matches played in Bloemfontein earlier this month, where South Africa won 3-1 and drew 1-1 at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.
“This will be the first official fixtures for the SA U23 squad in a long time. South Africa received a bye in the previous round after the withdrawal of Comoros, giving Madagascar a free passage to this round.
“The overall winners between the two nations will face either Rwanda or Cameroon in the next phase in March next year. After the third round, the remaining seven countries will join hosts Egypt in the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the top two nations from this tournament will represent Africa at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA in 2028,” he said.
U23 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFIERS VS MADAGASCAR 9-18 October 2026 Goalkeepers: Fletcher SMYTHE-LOWE (Estoril Praia SAD FC, Portugal) Enrique ERASMUS (Thames FC) Kgoleng RATISANI (Orlando Pirates FC) DEFENDERS: Luthando VENA (Stellenbosch FC) Asekho TIWANI (Kruger United FC) Tylon SMITH (New England Revolution, USA) Moses MPHEKGOANE (Hope FC) Neo RAPOO (Orlando Pirates FC) Thato SIBIYA (LOSC Lille, France) Cassidy SNYDERS (University of Pretoria) Siviwe NKWALI (Stellenbosch FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Camren DANSIN (Orlando Pirates FC) Gomolemo KEKANA (Mamelodi Sundowns FC) Dhakier LEE (Cape Town City FC) Simphiwe SELEPE (Orlando Pirates FC) Lazola MAKU (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)
FORWARDS: Mfundo VILAKAZI (Kaizer Chiefs FC) Kutlwano LETLHAKU (Mamelodi Sundowns FC) Nhlanhla GASA (Golden Arrows FC) Shandre CAMPBELL (KV Kortrijk, Belgium) Mpho PADIME (Orlando Pirates FC) Quwan PLAATJIES (Stellenbosch FC) Thabang MAHLANGU (Sekhukhune FC) Manelis MAZIBUKO (Siwelele FC)
