South Africa have been crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, following a 1-0 win over Morocco in Sunday night’s final at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
Gomolemo Kekana netted the decisive goal in the 70th minute, firing a sensational right-footed strike from outside the box into the top corner. The goal, confirmed after a VAR review, was the breakthrough in a tightly contested final.
The match was a tactical battle between two unbeaten sides, both known for their strong defensive setups. South Africa held firm to see out the victory and made history by defeating a North African side in the tournament for the first time.
This triumph marks South Africa's first appearance in the U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco. Nearly three decades later, they not only avenged that defeat but also became the 12th different nation to lift the prestigious youth title.
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