U-20 FOOTBALL
Morocco, South Africa ready for battle in U20 AFCON final
South Africa and Morocco will contest the final of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday, a repeat of the 1997 decider between the two.
It is the second time each has reached this stage of the tournament, with Morocco, as hosts, victorious in their previous final as they beat South Africa 1-0 to claim their only title to date.
South Africa have never beaten North African opposition at the tournament, losing all five encounters.
In addition to the 1997 final, they have suffered four 1-0 defeats to Egypt in the group stages of 2001, 2009, 2011, and 2025. All five defeats have been by a single goal, with four ending 1-0.
Morocco boast a perfect record against Southern African teams, having beaten South Africa in the 1997 final and secured group-stage wins over Lesotho (2-0) and Angola (1-0) in 2005.
This is South Africa’s fifth final across CAF youth and senior tournaments. They previously reached the senior finals in 1996 and 1998, defeating Tunisia and losing to Egypt, respectively.
At U-20 level, they lost the 1997 final to Morocco. A win this time would make them the 12th different nation to lift the trophy and the second from Southern Africa after Zambia in 2017.
It would also mark the second successive edition to crown a first-time winner, after Senegal’s triumph in 2023. In fact, four of the last five winners have lifted the trophy for the first time.
Both teams followed identical knockout paths to the final: extra-time wins in the quarterfinals and 1-0 victories in regulation time in the semifinals.
South Africa beat DR Congo after extra time and then Nigeria, while Morocco edged Sierra Leone in extra time before defeating hosts Egypt.
This is the fifth U-20 AFCON tournament hosted in North Africa since the switch to a single-format in 1991. Egypt hosted in 1991, 2023, and 2025, while Morocco and Algeria hosted in 1997 and 2013 respectively.
In each of the three editions where a North African team reached the final on home soil (1991, 1997, 2013), they won the title. The 2025 final is only the second, after 1997, to feature a Southern African team against a North African team, and the first final since 1997 without a West African participant.
Of the previous 24 finals, none have ended goalless. Four went to extra time, with two settled in open play – Egypt’s 4-3 win over Côte d’Ivoire in 2003 and Nigeria’s 3-2 win over Cameroon in 2011. Two others, in 2013 and 2019, were decided by penalties. Since 1991, 13 of 17 finals have been settled in 90 minutes.
The most common scoreline in finals has been 2-0, occurring nine times. The highest-scoring final was in 2003, with seven goals.
SOUTH AFRICA FACTS
· South Africa reached the final after a 1-0 win over Nigeria. It is the first time they have won four matches in a single edition, including three 1-0 victories and a 4-1 win over Sierra Leone.
· After failing to score in their opener, they have netted eight goals across their next five games and conceded only twice. They are unbeaten in their last five matches, having lost their opener to Egypt, and have kept three clean sheets – their joint-best tally at a single edition.
· Goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe has been key, making 24 saves, the most in the tournament.
· Tylon Smith’s goal against Nigeria, assisted by Neo Rapoo, was his first of the tournament and South Africa’s eighth. Smith is one of six different scorers for the team.
· Rapoo, along with Shakeel April, has two assists and three total goal involvements. South Africa have won more duels (297 to Morocco’s 266) and more tackles (64 to 53), with a better tackle success rate (71.9% to 63.9%).
· Historically, South Africa had never won a knockout match in open play before this edition. Their only previous successes came in penalty shootouts – against Ghana in the 1997 semifinal and Nigeria in the 2019 third-place match. At this edition, they have won both knockout matches in regulation or extra time.
MOROCCO FACTS
· Morocco reached the final by defeating Kenya (3-2), drawing with Nigeria (0-0), and beating Tunisia (3-1) in the group stage. They then won 1-0 after extra time against Sierra Leone and beat Egypt 1-0 in the semifinals.
· Prior to 2025, Morocco had never won a knockout match outside their home soil.
· Unbeaten in their last 14 matches in open play at the U-20 AFCON (W8 D6), Morocco’s last defeat in open play came in 2003, a 4-0 group-stage loss to Egypt.
· All four of their past penalty shootouts have ended in defeat. This is the first time they’ve reached the final without a group-stage loss.
· Morocco, like South Africa, have scored eight goals with six different players contributing. Jones El Abdellaoui and Yassir Zabiri lead the team with two goals each. El Abdellaoui scored the semifinal winner as a substitute – both his goals have come off the bench.
· Hossam Essadak has created 11 chances, more than any other Moroccan player.
· In the semifinal win over Egypt, Morocco did not face a single shot on target. They have conceded just three goals and faced 18 shots on target across five matches.
· Their shot conversion rate (15.38%) slightly edges South Africa’s (14.55%). Notably, six of Morocco’s eight goals have come after halftime, with five in the second half and one in extra time.
· They have yet to score in the opening 40 minutes of any match.
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U-20 FOOTBALL
Football Meets History as Ghana Set To Celebrate 70 Years of Independence with U-20 Afcon Hosting
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Ghana the hosting rights for the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, aligning the tournament with a landmark moment in the country’s history—its 70th independence anniversary.
The decision positions the youth championship as a centrepiece of Ghana’s national celebrations, offering a platform to showcase not only its enduring football pedigree but also its historical journey since gaining independence in 1957.
CAF noted that the timing underscores Ghana’s long-standing influence on African football and its commitment to nurturing young talent across generations.
This will be the second time Ghana hosts the competition, having staged and won the 1999 edition in front of passionate home supporters. Nearly three decades later, the country will once again welcome the continent’s brightest young players in a tournament that has consistently served as a springboard to global football.
The 12-team competition carries added significance, with the top four sides qualifying to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. For Ghana, the event also revives memories of its historic triumph on the world stage in 2009, when it became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Ghana’s rich youth development tradition has produced some of Africa’s most celebrated footballers, including Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Derek Boateng, André Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Their emergence from the U-20 system reflects the tournament’s importance in shaping elite careers and reinforcing Ghana’s status as a powerhouse in youth football.
The most recent edition of the competition was hosted by Egypt, with South Africa lifting the title, highlighting the growing depth and competitiveness of the continental game.
CAF is expected to announce the match schedule, host cities and venues for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027 in due course, as preparations gather pace for a tournament that will blend football excellence with a historic national celebration.
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The Kingdom of Morocco is set to celebrate its latest football triumph as His Majesty King Mohammed VI, will this Wednesday host the national under-20 football team for a royal reception in honor of their historic FIFA U-20 World Cup victory in Chile.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI
According to a statement from the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol, and Chancellery, the King has instructed that the young Atlas Lions, who made history by becoming world champions, be accorded a hero’s welcome on Wednesday, October 22.
The statement confirmed that the royal audience will take place at the Royal Palace in Rabat, where His Majesty will personally receive the players, coaches, and officials of the victorious team in recognition of their exceptional performance and for bringing pride to the nation.
Following the royal reception, a grand popular celebration is scheduled to take place in the capital. The team will depart from the Royal Palace around 6:30 p.m., passing through Bab Essoufara and then along Avenue Mohammed V, where thousands of Moroccans are expected to line the streets to cheer the world champions.
This marks an unprecedented milestone in Moroccan football history, as the U-20 side’s global triumph has sparked nationwide jubilation and renewed optimism for the country’s growing football legacy under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, whose sustained investment in youth and sports development has been widely praised.
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It is a transcontinental rivalry that is fast spreading across all competitions. From the FIFA World Cup to the football tournament of the Olympics, the King Fahd Intercontinental Cup later redesignated as Confederation Cup, the U-17 World Cup, the U-20 World Cup and friendly matches – Argentina and Nigeria are fast becoming fierce rivals.
And so, for the third time in history, Nigeria and Argentina will go head-to-head at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, as they clash in a highly anticipated Round of 16 encounter at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. Nigerian time.
The Flying Eagles delegation arrive in Santiago
The fixture rekindles one of youth football’s most captivating rivalries, with both nations boasting rich histories at the global stage.
Their most recent meeting came two years ago when Nigeria stunned hosts Argentina 2-0 in the Round of 16 — a result that sent shockwaves across the tournament. Goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki sealed that famous win, propelling the Flying Eagles into the quarter-finals before they bowed out to the Republic of Korea after extra time.
The rivalry dates back decades. In the 2005 final in the Netherlands, Argentina triumphed 2-1 over Nigeria thanks to two penalty goals from Lionel Messi, while Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi struck a memorable goal for the Flying Eagles.
Argentina remain the most successful nation in the tournament’s history with six titles, while Nigeria have reached the final twice (1989 and 2005) and claimed bronze in 1985.
Despite the Albiceleste’s pedigree, the Flying Eagles — seven-time African champions — will take to the pitch in Santiago with belief and determination, buoyed by a strong group-stage showing. Coach Aliyu Zubair’s men collected four points from their three matches, including a spirited 1-1 draw with Colombia, in which Nigeria struck the crossbar three times before captain Daniel Bameyi coolly converted a late penalty.
That performance, built on resilience and attacking flair, has strengthened confidence within the Nigerian camp. However, Zubair will have to make at least one change in attack as Suleman Sani is suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the group stage.
The Flying Eagles arrived in Santiago from Talca on Monday evening and will hold a final training session on Tuesday ahead of their showdown with the South American giants.
With history, pride, and a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Wednesday’s clash promises another thrilling chapter in the long-running Nigeria–Argentina football rivalry.
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