South Africa Win Historic U20 AFCON Title in Cairo

South Africa’s U20 national team wrote a golden chapter in their football history on Sunday, May 18, as they lifted their first-ever U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, defeating Morocco 1-0 in a tense final at Cairo International Stadium.

Kekana Delivers the Glory

Gomolemo Kekana, a talented midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns, beat the Moroccan goalkeeper with a thundering strike from outside the box in the 70th minute to give the young Bafana Bafana a historic victory.

A Tournament to Remember

• Record: 5 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss
• Group Stage:
  • Beat Tanzania 1-0
  • Beat Sierra Leone 4-1
  • Drew Zambia 1-1
  • Lost narrowly to Egypt 0-1
• Knockout Rounds:
  • Quarterfinal: Beat DR Congo 1-0
  • Semifinal: Beat Nigeria 1-0
  • Final: Beat Morocco 1-0

Their triumph was built on resilience, tactical discipline, and moments of brilliance, especially from players like Kekana and goalkeeper Katlego Molefe, who kept five clean sheets during the campaign.

World Cup Qualification Secured

With their top-four finish, South Africa, along with Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco, have qualified for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled from September 27 to October 19.

Historic Achievement

This victory surpasses South Africa's previous best showing at U20 level, when they finished runners-up in 1997 to Ghana. It also reaffirms the nation's growing investment in youth football, with the U20 success complementing a promising generation of rising talent.

Star-Studded Closing Ceremony

The final was attended by high-profile figures, including:

• CAF President Patrice Motsepe
• CAF Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa (also Moroccan FA chief)
• Egyptian FA President Hany Abou Rida
• Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy

Their presence added weight to what was a momentous night for South African football.

The Future Looks Bright

With this historic triumph, South Africa's U20 team has established itself as a continental powerhouse, and the upcoming World Cup might make the following phase even more amazing.