A group of South African youth soccer players stranded in Europe are finally expected to return home this week, following mounting public concern and a successful fundraising effort.

Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations, confirmed on social media that 16 players will be departing Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday evening, with their arrival in Cape Town anticipated by Thursday afternoon. The group returning will reportedly be split into three, and take separate flights for the journey back.

Update as promised. https://t.co/JxEwDZLGzP pic.twitter.com/a4xLIhFzM1

— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) July 21, 2025

The group of 35 young male players, including a small number of girls, had travelled to Spain earlier this month to participate in a football tournament.

Parents reportedly spent thousands of rand to send their children abroad for the occasion.

ALSO READ: Stranded CT Youth Soccer Team Expected to Return to SA Soon

While some of the children have already made their way home, more than 20 are still abroad and will be flying back over the coming days.

SAFA Probe

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced a full investigation into the BT Football Academy. It has since emerged that the academy is not registered with SAFA.

SAFA’s inquiry aims to determine how the trip was organised and whether any regulations were breached, as the young players begin making their way home from Europe.