South Africa stuns Morocco to claim historic U20 AFCON title
In a tense final at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium, South Africa’s Amajitas clinched their first-ever U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a gritty 1-0 victory over Morocco. Gomolemo Kekana’s 70th-minute strike—initially ruled offside before VAR intervention—sealed the win against the tournament favorites, avenging South Africa’s 1997 final loss to the same opponent.
Morocco, chasing a historic youth football treble after U17 and U23 triumphs, dominated possession but lacked cutting edge. Goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe and defender Tylon Smith (tournament MVP) anchored a resilient South African backline, weathering attacks from Dahak and El-Abdellaoui before Kekana’s breakaway goal against the run of play.
The Atlas Lions, unbeaten in regulation time before the final, fell short of replicating their 1997 U20 glory.
Nigeria claimed bronze by defeating Egypt on penalties (4-1), with all four semifinalists qualifying for the 2025 U20 World Cup in Chile.
South Africa’s triumph marks a watershed moment for their youth development, while Morocco’s fair-play award offers scant consolation.
