AFCON U-20 South Africa Crowned Champions; Nigeria Beat Egypt to Third Place Finish
South Africa won their maiden U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in Sunday night’s final at Cairo International Stadium.
Gomolemo Kekana’s stunning second-half strike proved decisive, as the Southern Africans claimed the trophy and rewrote history by overcoming a North African opponent in the tournament for the first time.
The only goal of the final came in the 70th minute when Kekana unleashed a powerful right-footed effort from outside the box, bending the ball into the top corner.
The goal, awarded after a VAR review, broke the deadlock in a tense contest dominated by tactical discipline and defensive organisation.
Kekana’s goal capped a superb tournament for South Africa, who had never reached a U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco.
This time, they flipped the script, avenging that defeat to lift the trophy and become the 12th different nation to win the title.
Both sides entered the final unbeaten, boasting some of the tournament’s best defensive records.
Morocco, the more fluid side in the first half, created better chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was once again in inspired form.
South Africa, who had grown into the competition after losing their opener to Egypt, showed resilience and patience. Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had half chances, but neither side managed to find the net before the break.
The second half opened up with Morocco pushing forward, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close.
However, the North Africans were wasteful in front of goal, and South Africa’s high pressing eventually paid dividends.
After Kekana’s wonder goal, South Africa soaked up pressure with commendable discipline. Morocco threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but South Africa’s backline — led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba — held firm.
South Africa’s victory marks their first-ever youth continental triumph and adds them to a growing list of recent debut winners, following Senegal’s 2023 success and also broke their jinx against North African opposition, ending a run of five previous defeats — all by a single goal margin.
Nigeria claimed third place at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 after a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout victory over tournament hosts Egypt on Sunday.
The third-place playoff at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, before Nigeria kept their nerve in the shootout to secure their fifth bronze medal in U-20 AFCON history.
It was a clash between two sides aiming to finish the tournament on a high after missing out on the final.
Osama Omar put Egypt ahead early in the third minute, but Nigeria equalised shortly after the restart through Bidemi Amole.
With no extra time played in the third-place match, penalties were required, and the Flying Eagles converted all four of their spot-kicks, while Egypt missed two.
Egypt made a dream start, silencing the Nigerian bench just three minutes into the contest. Osama Omar lashed in a clinical finish from close range after Mahmoud Labib’s cut-back created chaos in the Nigerian box.
Despite conceding early, Nigeria gradually settled, dominating possession and carving out numerous chances.
Clinton Jephta and Precious Benjamin both tested Egyptian goalkeeper, Abdel Monem Tamer, while Israel Ayuma’s long-range efforts failed to find the target.
Just two minutes into the second half, Nigeria’s pressure paid off. A precise through ball from Divine Oliseh found Amole, who kept his composure to slot home the equalizer.
The Flying Eagles pushed for a winner, with substitutes Tahir Maigana and Kparobo Arierhi adding energy in the attack. Egypt, however, nearly snatched victory in stoppage time as Mohamed El Sayed struck the bar and Mohamed Haitham hit the post in a frantic finale.
With the game tied 1-1 after 90 minutes, penalties followed. Nigeria was flawless from the spot, converting all four attempts through Emmanuel Chukwu, Ayuma, Arierhi and Maigana.
Egypt’s Mohamed Atef and Ahmed Kabaka both saw their efforts saved by 15-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who once again showed maturity beyond his years.
The win marked Nigeria’s fifth bronze medal and 14th top-three finish in U-20 AFCON history. It also continued their impressive record against host nations, beating Egypt for the second straight tournament.
