By: Kwame Bediako
South Africa claimed their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Morocco in the final held at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo. The decisive moment came in the 70th minute when Gomolemo Kekana unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box, bending into the top corner of the net.
The goal, confirmed after a VAR review, broke the deadlock in a tense, tightly contested match that showcased both teams’ tactical discipline and strong defensive organization.
Kekana’s stunning strike capped a remarkable tournament for South Africa, who had never reached the final since their last appearance in 1997, when they were defeated by Morocco.
This victory not only marks a historic moment for South African football but also sees them become the 12th nation to lift the U-20 AFCON trophy. By overcoming a North African opponent for the first time, they rewrote the history books and avenged their previous loss to Morocco in that final more than two decades ago.
The goal, confirmed after a VAR review, broke the deadlock in a tense, tightly contested match that showcased both teams’ tactical discipline and strong defensive organization.
Kekana’s stunning strike capped a remarkable tournament for South Africa, who had never reached the final since their last appearance in 1997, when they were defeated by Morocco.
This victory not only marks a historic moment for South African football but also sees them become the 12th nation to lift the U-20 AFCON trophy. By overcoming a North African opponent for the first time, they rewrote the history books and avenged their previous loss to Morocco in that final more than two decades ago.
Both sides entered the final unbeaten, boasting some of the best defensive records in the tournament. Morocco, more fluid in the first half, created several promising chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but South Africa’s goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was once again in inspired form.
The South Africans, having grown stronger after an initial loss to Egypt, showed resilience and patience, with Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi coming close to scoring before the break, although neither team could find the net.
The second half saw Morocco pushing forward in search of an equalizer, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close to scoring.
