Amajimbos hold Qatar to keep FIFA U17 World Cup dream alive

South Africa came from a goal down to hold Qatar 1-1 on their second Group A match at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup on Thursday.

The host nation took the lead early on, opening the scoring after just three minutes with a strike from Yazan Mohammed.

The Amajimbos didn’t stay behind for long after Emile Witbooi scored his second goal of the tournament in the 16th minute.

Qatar had a second opportunity to score, but the quick hands of goalkeeper Lwandiso Radebe made a vital save.

Both sides were forced to settle for a point each by the end of the final whistle.

Speaking after the match, coach Vela Khumalo says this was not the result they were hoping for.

“We were not really aggressive or even showed a little bit of individual brilliance. But it was not our day, we were not really on the ball, we got a draw, which we can take and go home,” he says.

Amajimbos sit in second position in Group A ahead of their final group game against group leaders, Italy, on Sunday.

This will be a must-win game for the team if they hope to comfortably cruise into the knockout stages.

Only the top two teams from each group will have a guaranteed spot.

Third-place finishers will have to wait for all group games to be completed, as the best eight will qualify.