South Africa wins maiden CAF U20 AFCON after beating Morocco in final
South Africa made history on Sunday night at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo by winning their first-ever CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday.
In a tense and tactically tight final, the Southern Africans edged out Morocco 1-0, thanks to a stunning second-half strike from Gomolemo Kekana.
Kekana’s 70th-minute goal – a right-footed rocket from outside the boxnthat curled into the top corner – was worthy of winning any final.
The moment was confirmed after a VAR check and sent South Africa into ecstasy.
It capped an incredible run for a side that had never before lifted a continental youth trophy and had not reached the U-20 final since 1997, when they also faced Morocco and lost.
This time, however, they flipped the script. With Fletcher Smythe-Lowe’s heroics in goal – finishing the tournament with the most saves (24) -and a disciplined defensive unit led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba, South Africa shut down a Moroccan side that had been unbeaten in their last 14 U-20 AFCON matches.
It was a tournament of firsts and redemption for South Africa. After an opening loss to hosts Egypt, they rallied past DR Congo, Nigeria, and now Morocco – all by narrow margins – proving grit, organization, and
patience can pave the way to glory. Nigeria won bronze after beating host country Egypt in the third-place playoff after a 4-1 penalty shootout victory.
