SA U15 squad eyes good start against Maldives in opening World Cup clash – South African Football Association

23 October 2026 – The South African U15 Boys National Team kickoff their FIFA U15 Boys World Cup and Festival with a clash against the Maldives, and Head Coach Selekedi Mogale says they are looking to get off to a good start.

The South Africans arrived safely on Thursday, and are nicely settled in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the six-day tournament.

They also held their first training session in the country on Friday in preparation for the battle against the Maldives on Saturday, which kicks off at 07h00 South African time.

“We are looking to score goals, create a lot of opportunities but really to  manage the game so that we don’t use a lot of energy to win, but use it well enough so that we progress into Day 2,” said SA U15 Head Coach Selekedi Mogale from their base in Azerbaijan.

The tournament runs from 24 – 30 October 2026. South Africa is in Group A with Anguilla, Estonia, France, Kosovo and Maldives. The FIFA U15 Boys World Cup and Festival is aimed at giving experience to the youth from a young age by getting them to compete on the global stage at the start of their football careers.

In preparation for this competition, Mogale and his charges spent a few days in a training camp in Germany where they also played two matches against Bundesliga Academies.

The SA U15 mentor has been impressed by the World Cup initiative and has applauded FIFA for bringing it to life.

“This is a very good FIFA initiative, even at lunch today the colleagues and boys said they’ve never seen so many countries in their lives. Some of them didn’t even know some of these countries existed. Thanks to FIFA for the concept and to SAFA for allowing us to be here,” added Mogale.

CAF Director of Member Associations Sarah Mukuna sent a message of support and encouragement to South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan and the players ahead of the tournament.

“As the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival begins, I wish you and your young players great success!” Mukuna said.

She also noted SAFA’s strong commitment to the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

“Thank you for your dedication to the CAF African Schools Football Championship, which has impacted over 3 million children across Africa,” she said.

Dr Jordaan is in Azerbaijan and he serves as a member of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competitions, a key body that oversees all major global men’s tournaments. He will also support the team during the tournament.

www.safa.net spoke to Mogale ahead of the opening match, and this is what he had to say:

How is the team looking before the opening game against the Maldives?

What we are looking forward to in our opening match against the Maldives is the playing structure, moving the ball, maintaining ball rotation and actually managing the game. We are looking to score goals, create a lot of opportunities but really to manage the game so that we don’t use a lot of energy to win the game, but use it well enough so that we progress into Day 2 with a little bit more energy than expected, and goals, and also gelling together and growing together in the tournament.

How important was the Germany tour ahead of this tournament?

It was very important for team chemistry, for the players to get to know each other, for the concepts to be spread, and for me to outline the objectives, the playing foundation, and how do we play and what our tactical approach is in games. That was the foundation in Germany, yes, it cannot be fully completed because of the time period, but it created a very good foundation for us coming into the U15 World Cup, even in a smaller format. I highlighted to the boys how individual duels are going to be important, creating overloads but still moving the ball and the general concepts of 11v11, that was important, and also for them to also understand the technical team and what we expect from them.

What are you hoping to achieve with this tournament?

We are hoping to top the group, to go into the last 32 knockout, and really to progress and make the nation proud to try and get into the last 16, the last eight and the last four. We are a very competitive side even at this level, and yes people can say but are we not being too ambitious, but pound for pound, talent for talent, I think we are amongst the best in the world and it’s really to show that these boys having gone to Germany and having made their mark, and even having their international teammates such as Jaden Potgieter and Camden Schaper who are already overseas, that more of our players can be there and that South African talent used to be looked out for in the global stage. So, I really believe what these boys displayed in Germany and coming into this World Cup they can really make an even bigger mark if we just believe, apply ourselves correctly and do the right things on the pitch.

Your thoughts on this FIFA initiative?

This FIFA initiative is a very good initiative, even at lunch today the colleagues and boys said they’ve never seen so many countries in their lives. Some of them didn’t even know some of these countries existed and to see people all over the world coming together, 200 of them, we would like to thank FIFA for this initiative, even for SAFA to respond and make us a part of this initiative. There are few nations that have dropped out, but it’s such a lovely initiative to see football growing, even the facilities, even Azerbaijan as our hosts receiving us nicely and showing the world class facilities that they have for this format, it has been it has been a very good concept and we like it and we hope that the football also matches those ambitions.

GROUP STAGE FIXTURES:

Saturday, 24 October 2026:

vs Maldives (07h00 SA Time)

Sunday, 25 October 2026:

vs Kosovo (10h45 SA Time)

vs Anguilla (17h30 SA Time)

Monday, 26 October 2026:

vs Estonia (09h30 SA Time)

vs France (16h15 SA Time)

South African Football: Bafana Bafana is the nickname for the South African national football team.