South Africa win first U-20 AFCON title after victory over Morocco
South Africa were crowned champions of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, following a gritty 1-0 win over Morocco in Sunday night’s final at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
A stunning second-half strike from Gomolemo Kekana sealed the victory, delivering a historic moment for South African football. It was also their first-ever win over a North African side in the tournament’s history.
The decisive goal came in the 70th minute, when Kekana unleashed a thunderous right-footed effort from outside the box, curling the ball into the top corner. The goal stood after a brief VAR check, lighting up an otherwise tense and tactically tight contest.
The match was a showcase of disciplined defending and strategic patience, with both teams entering the final unbeaten and boasting some of the best defensive records in the competition.
Morocco had the better of the early exchanges, threatening through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe delivered another commanding performance to keep them at bay.
Pure joy. 🇿🇦🤩#TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/C5rgusRVhc
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) May 18, 2025
South Africa, who rebounded impressively after losing their opening game to hosts Egypt, gradually grew into the match. While Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had half-chances, neither side could find a breakthrough before halftime.
Morocco stepped up their attacking intensity in the second half, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal going close. However, their finishing let them down, and South Africa’s relentless pressing eventually opened the door.
Following Kekana’s wonder goal, South Africa absorbed Morocco’s late pressure with poise, with defenders Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba anchoring a rock-solid backline.
This triumph not only avenges South Africa’s 1997 final defeat to Morocco but also makes them the 12th nation to win the U-20 AFCON title. It marks a major milestone in the country's youth football history and follows in the footsteps of Senegal’s maiden win in 2023, continuing the trend of new champions on the rise in African football.
It also broke their jinx against North African opposition, ending a run of five previous defeats — all by a single goal margin.
Fletcher Lowe ended the tournament with the most saves (30), underlining South Africa’s defensive resolve.
Kekana’s goal was only their ninth of the campaign, but every strike proved crucial as they edged past DR Congo, Nigeria and now Morocco in the knockout rounds.
For Morocco, the defeat marks a missed opportunity to win a second title. They came into the final unbeaten in 14 U-20 AFCON matches in open play, but Sunday’s loss — their first defeat of the tournament — was a bitter blow.
