By Emmanuel Dominic 
CAF U-20 AFCON 2025: South Africa Crowned Champions Over Morocco
South Africa clinched their first-ever CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final held on May 18, 2025, at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo, Egypt. The decisive goal came in the 70th minute when Gomolemo Kekana unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box, which found the top corner after a VAR review confirmed its validity .
This triumph marked a historic moment for South Africa, as it was their first U-20 AFCON title and a redemption from their 1997 final loss to Morocco . Under the guidance of head coach Raymond Mdaka, who became the first South African coach to win a continental youth title , the team showcased exceptional tactical discipline and defensive prowess throughout the tournament.
Despite Morocco’s dominance in possession and chances, South Africa’s resilience ensured their victory. Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, expressed his disbelief at the outcome, stating that his team had the upper hand in every aspect but still fell short .
Both South Africa and Morocco, along with the other semi-finalists, secured qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile .
For a detailed look at the match highlights, you can watch the official CAF video below
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1UtFctZGCJ/:
Emeka Blast