Sunday, May 18’s final of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, was a historic match between South Africa and Morocco. The game was a reprisal of the 1997 final, as Morocco had previously scored a 1-0 victory over South Africa.
Road to the Final
South Africa’s Journey:
South Africa, Amajita, launched their campaign in Group A with a narrow 1-0 loss to hosts Egypt.
They replied with a 1-0 win against Tanzania, thanks to Shakeel April’s goal, and a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Sierra Leone.
A convincing draw against Zambia concluded their qualification to the knockout stages.
Against DR Congo in the quarter-finals, Thabang Mahlangu’s extra-time goal led to a 1-0 victory and a qualification spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
The Amajita then hosted Nigeria in the semi-finals, in which Tylon Smith’s 66th-minute header from a Neo Rapoo assist guided them to a 1-0 victory, leading them to their second-ever U-20 AFCON final.
Morocco’s Journey
Morocco had topped Group B, starting with a 3-2 triumph over Kenya, a 0-0 draw against Nigeria, and a 3-1 win against Tunisia.
They went on to beat Sierra Leone 1-0 in extra time at the quarter-finals.
At the semi-final stage, they were pitted against hosts Egypt, where Jones El Abdellaoui, who was given substitute time, had scored the winning goal in the 77th minute, ensuring a 1-0 win and a place in the final.
The Final Showdown
The match was an intensely contested final, depicting the size of the stakes and the competition between the two teams. Both teams demonstrated tactical prudence and determination, with opportunities being crafted on both ends. The match remained goalless at the conclusion of regular time, and it proceeded to extra time.
