Cairo, Egypt – May 19, 2025 — South Africa’s U20 national team, Amajita, made history on Sunday night by winning their first-ever U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The South Africans edged past Morocco 1-0 in a tightly contested final played at Cairo’s Air Defence Stadium, while Kenya’s U20 team, the Rising Stars, exited in the group stage after a tough draw in Group B.
Historic Victory for South Africa U20
The final’s decisive moment came in the 70th minute, when midfielder Gomolemo Kekana controlled a brilliant long pass from goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe and slotted it home. The goal was confirmed by VAR and proved to be the title-winner.
“It was a tough match, but we trusted our structure and the boys executed the game plan perfectly,” said Amajita head coach Raymond Mdaka.
The title is South Africa’s first at U20 level, and marks a moment of redemption after their loss to Morocco in the 1997 final.
Kenya U20 Exit Early in Group of Death
Kenya’s U20 side, the Rising Stars, faced a tough group in the 2025 U-20 AFCON, drawn alongside football heavyweights Morocco, Nigeria, and Tunisia in Group B. Despite a valiant effort, Kenya was eliminated after finishing fourth in the group with the following results:
- Kenya 2–3 Morocco
- Kenya 1–3 Tunisia
- Kenya 2–2 Nigeria
The Rising Stars earned just one point, failing to progress to the knockout stages. However, standout performances—especially the draw against Nigeria—highlighted the team’s potential for future regional and continental competitions.
Kevin Wangaya, Kenya’s central midfielder, was a bright spot in the campaign. His efforts earned him a place in the CAF U20 AFCON Group Stage Best XI, underscoring the talent within Kenya’s youth system.
Egypt and Nigeria Battle for Bronze
In the third-place playoff, hosts Egypt were edged out by Nigeria on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Egypt had taken an early lead through Omar Hassan, but Nigeria’s Bidemi Amole equalized early in the second half. Nigeria secured third place with a 4-1 victory in the shootout, thanks in part to substitute goalkeeper Rufai Abubakar, who saved two penalties.
Qualified Teams for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025
Following their top-four finishes, the following teams have qualified to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year:
- South Africa 🇿🇦
- Morocco 🇲🇦
- Nigeria 🇳🇬
- Egypt 🇪🇬
Although Kenya missed out on qualification, their participation has been a valuable experience, and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has pledged support for greater youth development going forward.
Looking Ahead for Kenya U20
Despite the early exit, optimism remains high for Kenya’s Rising Stars. The team showed flashes of brilliance and will now focus on future CECAFA and CAF youth competitions. With talents like Kevin Wangaya emerging, Kenya is poised to be more competitive in upcoming editions.
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