South African football is officially on the clock. With just over a fortnight left to declare participation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers, the national Under-23 squad suddenly finds itself at the start of a big new cycle that could shape the country’s next generation of stars.
The countdown to LA 2028 has begun
A new circular sent to all football associations by FIFA confirms that the Olympic football programme will run between 14 and 30 July 2028. The exact match dates are still to be firmed up, but CAF has already been allocated two qualification slots for both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
For the men’s event, only 12 teams worldwide will make the cut. It’s one of the most competitive pathways in international football, largely because of the strict age eligibility: players must be born on or after 1 January 2005. Teams can only call up three over-age players for the final tournament.
The women’s competition, on the other hand, has no age limit and a wider field of 16 slots, making it an entirely different strategic challenge for participating nations.
With the entry deadline set for 23 February, South Africa needs to move quickly.
What SA’s Under-23 squad could look like
The core of the team expected to chase qualification comes from the group that competed in the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile. That squad, coached by Raymond Mdaka, gave South Africans a real glimpse of the future.
It featured young talents like Asekho Tiwani, Mfundo Vilakazi, Luke Baartman, Tylon Smith, Kutlwano Letlhakhu, Gomolemo Kekana, Fletcher Smythe-Lowe and Siviwe Magididi. Many of those players will fit perfectly within the Olympic age limit, giving the Under-23s a stable starting point.
Mdaka’s group had already shown solid chemistry on the global stage, and the transition to an Olympic qualifying squad could fast-track their development even further.
A history worth remembering
South Africa’s Under-23 team has reached the Olympic Games three times before, but one memory still stands out above the rest.
The year 2000, Sydney.
The day South Africa stunned Brazil 3-1 in Brisbane.
Quinton Fortune, Siyabonga Nomvete and Steve Lekoelea delivered a result that many fans still speak about with pride. It remains one of SA football’s most iconic youth-level performances.
A return to the Olympics has become a symbolic benchmark of local football progress, particularly as the country attempts to strengthen youth pathways and improve competitiveness across all age groups.
Why this moment matters
Qualifying for LA 2028 wouldn’t just be about ticking a box. For South Africa, it’s an opportunity to rebuild a long-term identity within the global game, especially at a time when young local players are making bold moves abroad and the national structures are shifting towards development-focused pathways.
The next few weeks will determine whether the Under-23s get the chance to chase that dream.
And if the past is anything to go by, South Africans know that magic can happen when youth and opportunity collide.
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Source: Kickoff
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