South Africa Stun Senegal 2-1 in U-17 AFCON Opener

Late turnaround sees South Africa topple Senegal in Rabat

Goals from Inganathi Simama and Reotshepile Malete gave the Amajimbos a crucial win over the 2023 champions.

Senegal had a late equalizer ruled out for offside after Cheikh Dieng’s 35-yard strike...

South Africa pulled off a surprise 2-1 comeback win over defending champions Senegal in their opening Group D match at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat on Thursday, giving themselves a major boost in a tough pool.

The Amajimbos share the group with Algeria and Ghana, and losing to the 2023 winners would have made getting out far harder.

After a sluggish first half where they were outplayed, Vela Khumalo’s side stepped up after the break, took control, and held on for the result.

The top two teams in each group go through to the quarter-finals and secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The four third-placed teams are out of the AFCON but will play off for two more World Cup places, completing Africa’s 10 slots for the expanded 48-team tournament.

Senegal broke the deadlock in the 44th minute after wasting several good chances earlier.

It came from a simple set-piece: Cheikh Thior headed home from Sega Mbodji’s corner.

South Africa would have been frustrated with their defending at the corner, but couldn’t argue with being 1-0 down at the break after riding their luck for most of the half.

They looked a different side after halftime and were 2-1 up within 10 minutes.

The equalizer came when Aphelele Majola played through Mamelodi Sundowns’ Inganathi Simama, who slid it past Assane Sarr. The keeper likely should have saved it but couldn’t keep it out.

FULL-TIME! 🇸🇳🇿🇦

A big turnaround and a big win for the Amajimbos. ✅#TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/Fsii97SRxV

— CAF Online (@CAF_Online) May 14, 2026

South Africa then went ahead as their strong start continued. Kaizer Chiefs’ Reotshepile Malete hit a 25-yard shot that deflected off Thior, wrong-footing the keeper and giving the defender a goal at both ends.

Senegal thought they’d leveled it when Cheikh Dieng smashed a 35-yard strike past Mamelodi Sundowns keeper Lwandiso Radebe, but the goal was chalked off for offside in the build-up, giving South Africa some breathing room.

The Amajimbos face Algeria next in their second Group D match on Sunday, then wrap up the group stage against Ghana on Wednesday.

They’ve fallen in the quarter-finals in the last two tournaments, but were runners-up in 2015 and finished fourth in 2005. Their only group-stage exit came in 2007.

A standout performance from Dieng earns him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award. 👏🇸🇳#TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/672iGzHsW2

— CAF Online (@CAF_Online) May 14, 2026

This is South Africa’s sixth appearance at the U-17 AFCON finals.