South Africa’s under-20 team were beaten 1-0 by Senegal on Saturday as they continued their preparation for the African Youth Championship later this month.
Senegal are hosting the eight team tournament from March 8-22 and beat South Africa with a 44th minute goal from Ibrahima Wadji at the ground of the Diambars academy in Saly.
The Under-20 competition starts next Sunday when Senegal play Nigeria in the opening match. The other two teams in Group A are Congo and the Ivory Coast.
South Africa will play in Group B against Ghana, Mali and Zambia. Amajita’s first game is in the seaside holiday resort of Mbour on Monday, March 9 against Ghana’s Black Satellites.
South Africa left last week for Senegal and were among the early arrivals to prepare for the three-week tournament which serves to decide the four African countries who will play at the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand later this year.