South Africa claimed their first TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final held at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo on Sunday night.
The decisive moment came from Gomolemo Kekana, who scored a stunning goal in the second half. His powerful right-footed shot from outside the box bent into the top corner in the 70th minute, breaking the deadlock in a tense match characterised by tactical discipline and strong defensive play. The goal was awarded after a VAR review.
This win marked a historic achievement for South Africa, as they had never reached a U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco. This time, they turned the tables, avenging that earlier defeat to lift the trophy and become the twelfth different nation to win the title.
Both teams entered the final unbeaten, with impressive defensive records. Morocco appeared more fluid in the first half, creating better chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi. However, South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was in excellent form, keeping the game scoreless.
South Africa, which improved steadily after losing their opening match to Egypt, demonstrated resilience and patience. Although Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had opportunities, neither side could score before halftime.
The second half began with Morocco pressing forward, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close to scoring. However, the North Africans could not convert, and South Africa’s high pressure eventually paid off. Following Kekana’s spectacular goal, South Africa maintained their composure under pressure. Despite Morocco’s attempts to equalise, South Africa’s defence, led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba, held strong.
This victory signifies South Africa’s first-ever youth continental triumph and adds them to a growing list of recent debut winners, following Senegal’s success in 2023. It also ended their troubling history against North African teams, breaking a streak of five previous defeats, all by a single goal margin.
Fletcher Lowe finished the tournament with a standout 24 saves, highlighting South Africa’s defensive strength. Kekana’s crucial goal marked their ninth of the tournament, helping them overcome DR Congo, Nigeria, and Morocco in the knockout rounds.
For Morocco, the defeat in the final represented a missed chance for a second title, ending their 14-match unbeaten run in the U-20 AFCON. Despite their strong performances, they are still in search of another crown.
