South Africa celebrated a historic win, claiming their first-ever CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final on Sunday night at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
The decisive moment came in the 70th minute when Gomolemo Kekana struck a stunning goal from outside the box, sending the ball into the top corner after a VAR review. This marked the first time South Africa defeated a North African opponent in the tournament, rewriting history in a significant way.
Both teams entered the final undefeated, showcasing strong defensive records. Morocco started the match as the more fluid side, creating early opportunities through players like Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe delivered a standout performance.
As the match progressed, South Africa demonstrated resilience and patience, eventually capitalizing on Kekana’s wonder goal. Despite Morocco's attempts to equalize, South Africa’s defense, led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba, held firm under pressure.
This victory marks a significant achievement for South Africa, who had not reached the U-20 AFCON final since 1997. Their triumph not only adds them to the list of debut winners but also ends a streak of five defeats against North African teams.
For Morocco, the loss was their first in 14 U-20 AFCON matches in open play, marking a missed chance to secure a second title. Despite their impressive run, the wait for another crown continues.
