Spurs starlet joins SA camp ahead of U17 AFCON qualifiers

Cape Town Spurs have a representative in South Africa’s preliminary squad for the upcoming CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifiers 2026.

Aqeel Hess is part of the group of players who are in camp in Johannesburg, Gauteng, as Amajimbos prepare for the regional tournament set to be hosted by Zimbabwe.

In June, Hess was among the four Spurs starlets who were in the South Africa under-17 national team camp under coach David Nyathi at the SAFA Technical Centre.

Amajimbos head coach Vela Khumalo has since included Hess in the latest squad and it is a reward for the teenager’s display for Spurs in youth development competitions.

The COSAFA tournament will be staged in Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, from 11-20 September 2025 and the final Amajimbos squad will depart for Harare next week.

The draw for the tournament has already been conducted and the South Africans were drawn in Group B against Zambia, Madagascar and Malawi.

COSAFA Qualifiers Groups

GROUP A: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Comoros, Eswatini
GROUP B: Zambia, South Africa, Madagascar, Malawi
GROUP C: Angola, Botswana, Mauritius, Lesotho