Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba hinted yesterday that he would call up some of the national under-17 players to the senior team in the near future after their extraordinary campaign at the African Junior Championships in Niger.

Amajimbos lost 2-0 to Mali in the final on Sunday, but qualified for the World Cup in Chile in October.

Mashaba was at OR Tambo International Airport to welcome home the team and said two or three of the players had done enough to get a look in for Bafana in the future.

"This team is going to the World Cup. The day we announce the squad people should watch out. You have made an impression," Mashaba said as he addressed the players in a press conference room packed to the rafters at the airport.

"We have discussed this with the technical committee. Two or three of you will be training with the senior team. Then we will see our football progressing. If they show mettle, then we will throw them in. We don't fear anything."

Proud parents, some carrying boards reading "welcome home", turned up at the airport yesterday to welcome Amajimbos back.

Nelson Maluleke's parents travelled from Leandra, just outside Secunda in Mpumalanga, to give their son a warm welcome. The Amajimbos captain was one of the standout players at the competition.

"We are very proud of our boy. We do not even know what to say. It's the first time anyone in our family is progressing as much as he is," said his father Isaac.

Safa president Danny Jordaan, meanwhile, lauded the team after their impressive campaign.

"This is the first time the national under-17s have generated so much discussion on social networks, radio and television. That is an indication of their special achievements. Safa is celebrating 25 years and this is first time we have an under-17 team going to the World Cup. It has been a long journey. It does not end here. We must get back to work," he said.