This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress-Rabat-Caf
South Africa won its first total title of the African Cup of Nations U-20 thanks to a 1-0 victory over Morocco during the final which took place on Sunday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.
The goal of Gomolemo Kekana in the second half proved to be decisive. The South Africans won the trophy and rewritten history by beating a North African opponent for the first time in the tournament.
The only goal of the final was scored in the 70th minute, when Kekana has set a powerful right foot from outside the surface, which ended up in the skylight.
This goal, granted after an examination of the Var, made it possible to unlock a tense situation, dominated by tactical discipline and defensive organization.
Kekana’s goal has crowned a superb tournament for South Africa, which had not reached the final of the Afcon U-20 since 1997, when it had bowed against Morocco.
This time, the South Africans reversed the scenario, take revenge on this defeat to raise the trophy and become the different 12th nation to win the title.
The two teams approached the undefeated final, displaying one of the best defenses in the tournament.
Morocco, more fluid in the first half, has created better opportunities by Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but the South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was once again very inspired.
South Africa, which had embarked on competition after losing its opening match against Egypt, has shown resilience and patience. Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi get half-occasions, but neither of the two teams manages to find the net before the break.
The second half opened up to a Moroccan push, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal who got closer.
However, the North Africans fail to find the net of the nets and the high pressing of South Africa ends up paying off.
After Kekana’s goal, South Africa absorbed pressure with a discipline worthy of praise. Morocco threw itself into the attack to try to equalize, but the South African defense, led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba, held out.
The victory of South Africa marks its first continental triumph among young people and adds it to the increasingly long list of recent winners, after the success of Senegal in 2023.
She also broke the curse against North African teams, ending a series of five defeats, all by a single gap.
Fletcher Lowe finished the tournament with the greatest number of judgments (24), stressing the defensive determination of South Africa.
Kekana’s goal was only the ninth of the campaign, but each strike turned out to be crucial for the victory over DR Congo, Nigeria and now Morocco in the round of 16.
For Morocco, this defeat is a missed opportunity to win a second title. The Moroccans approached the unbeaten final in 14 games of the U-20 Afcon U-20 in the open game, but the defeat of Sunday-their first defeat of the tournament-was a blow.
Despite impressive performances throughout the tournament, the expectation of a second title continues.
Translated with deeppl.com (free version)
