South Africa won their first-ever CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title following a brutal 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final on Sunday night at Cairo International Stadium.
For the Amajita squad of 2025 it was a revenge mission accomplished on behalf of the 1997 South African team that lost 1-0 to Morocco as they became African champions for the first time in their history.
Amajita were second fiddle for the majority of the competition but survived yet another scare to go down in history as they ended their wait for a continental title.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC Reserves defensive midfielder, Gomolemo Kekana notched the only goal in the 72nd minute after being put through by goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe.
The Young Atlas Lions were the good side, with all the superb chances falling their way, but a mixture of poor finishing and some ruthless defending from the South Africans denied them.
After a scoreless first half, with 20 minutes to go, Man of the Match and the best goalkeeper of the tournament Fletcher Smythe-Lowe brought in a long ball that had Kekana running onto it and after getting ahead of the Moroccan defenders, he waited for them to fall behind him before unleashing a ferocious shot from the edge of the box to stun their opponents.
However, the referee flagged him offside but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was given.
South Africa’s defensive tenacity was demonstrated by Fletcher Smythe-Lowe, who finished the tournament with the most saves (24).
The goal saw Amajita re-strategize and defend their lead, allowing Morocco time and opportunity to surround and attack, and the North Africans should have been level in the 87th minute.
South Africa, who had won 1-0 against both DR Congo and Nigeria in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, served the same dose to Morocco, winning the match, having been on the receiving end yet again.
By: Pascal Amoah
