South Africa crowned U-20 AFCON champions

South Africa clinched their maiden CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday night with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Morocco in the final held at Cairo International Stadium

A spectacular second-half strike from Gomolemo Kekana in the 70th minute proved to be the difference, as the Southern Africans made history — not only by lifting their first U-20 AFCON trophy but also by defeating a North African side for the first time in the competition’s history.

Kekana’s goal came from a moment of brilliance. Positioned outside the box, he unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that curled into the top corner, leaving Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Benrahmoune with no chance. The goal was initially reviewed by VAR before being confirmed, igniting celebrations on the South African bench.

The final was a tense and tactically disciplined affair, with both teams showing the defensive resilience that had characterized their tournament runs. South Africa had never reached the final since 1997, when they were beaten by the same Moroccan side. But this time, they rewrote the script — avenging that loss and becoming the 12th nation to be crowned champions at this level.

For Morocco, the defeat ended their 14-match unbeaten run in U-20 AFCON play and denied them a second title. Despite their flair and consistency throughout the tournament, the final proved to be a bridge too far, leaving them to reflect on what could have been.