South Africa made history when they won their first-ever U20 Africa Cup of Nations title following a 1-0 victory against Morocco in Egypt on Sunday.
Amajita were second best for most of the contest but survived yet another onslaught to make history as they ended their wait for a continental title.
Gomolemo Kekana scored the only goal in the 72nd minute after being put through by goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe.
Morocco were the better side, with all the good chances falling to them, but a combination of poor finishing and some good defending from Amajita denied them.
How did South Africa stun Morocco?
The North Africans should have gone ahead after 22 minutes when Ilias Boumassaoudi drew a great save from Smythe-Lowe but South Africa should have scored from the resulting counter-attack only for Shakeel April to sting the Morocco goalkeeper’s hands.
Smythe-Lowe was there again two minutes later when he dived low to keep out a good shot from Mouad Dahak and again from Boumassaoudi.
After a goalless first half, South Africa surrendered the initiative yet again to Morocco, waiting to hit them on the break, and that is how they won the game.
With 20 minutes to go, Man of the Match Smythe-Lowe brought in a long ball that had Kekana running onto it and after getting ahead of the Moroccan defenders, he waited for them to get behind him before unleashing a ferocious shot from the edge of the box to stun their opponents.
However, the referee flagged him offside but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was given.
Amajita write new chapter of history
The goal saw Amajita retreat to try and defend their lead, allowing Morocco time and space to lay siege at their goal, and the North Africans should have been level in the 87th minute.
Othmane Maamma had the goal at his mercy when the ball was brought in but somehow headed out while April should have killed the game off for Ryamond Mdaka’s team on the counter-attack when he saw the keeper pull off a good save.
That is how it ended as South Africa, who had won 1-0 against both DR Congo and Nigeria in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, served the same dose to Morocco, winning the game, having been on the receiving end yet again.
For the Class of 2025 it was a revenge mission accomplished on behalf of the 1997 South African team that lost 1-0 to Morocco as they became African champions for the first time in their history.
