South African football has received a major boost after highly rated youngster Camden Schaper opted to represent Bafana Bafana’s junior national setup despite previously featuring for England at youth level.
The Benoni-born attacking midfielder has accepted a call-up to South Africa’s Under-16 squad, choosing to continue his international journey with Mzansi.
Schaper previously represented England at Under-15 level, but his latest decision could see one of South Africa’s most promising young talents develop within the national setup.
Schaper joins South Africa’s U16 camp
Schaper is currently in camp with South Africa ahead of the SAFA Bundesliga Dream 2026, which will take the team to Germany from 9 to 20 October.
The young midfielder is expected to face German opposition during the tour, including FC Augsburg and Arminia Bielefeld, giving him valuable exposure against highly regarded European academy sides.
South Africa will then turn its attention to the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan, scheduled for 22 to 30 October.
Schaper’s involvement represents another important step in his development as he continues to attract attention in England.
Blackburn Rovers starlet highly rated
The youngster currently plays for Blackburn Rovers in England and has enjoyed an impressive spell at academy level.
According to the supplied figures, Schaper has recorded 14 goals and 16 assists in seven appearances, underlining his attacking influence despite his young age.
He has also continued to make progress through Blackburn’s age-group system. In April, Schaper helped the club win the Iber Cup in Portugal, contributing three goals and four assists in seven matches.
At just 15, he later made his Blackburn Rovers Under-18 debut, coming off the bench against Hull City.
His development also saw him train with Blackburn’s Under-21 side in September, highlighting the high regard in which he is held by the English club.
Schaper previously attracted Premier League interest
Schaper’s rise has not gone unnoticed in England.
In 2025, the youngster reportedly became the subject of significant interest from Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, with Chelsea reportedly winning the race for his signature in a deal worth around £700,000 (approximately R17 million at the time).
However, administrative and transfer restrictions meant Schaper remained integrated into Blackburn’s Under-15 setup during 2026.
Despite his development in England, the talented midfielder has now chosen to commit his international future to South Africa at junior level.
South Africa’s U15 World Cup group
South Africa has been placed in Group A for the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival.
The competition will use an 8-a-side format on smaller pitches, with the first edition being a boys-only tournament.
South Africa’s group features:
- South Africa
- Anguilla
- Estonia
- France
- Kosovo
- Maldives
Head coach: Selekedi Mogale
Schaper’s decision to represent South Africa could therefore give the national setup another exciting attacking option as the country looks to develop its next generation of international stars.
For South African supporters, the big question now is how far Schaper can go after choosing Mzansi over England.
