U20 AFCON Final: Amajita vs Young Atlas Lions - who will reign supreme?

The U20 AFCON Final is set. South Africa's Amajita take on Morocco's Young Atlas Lions in a thrilling showdown. Read about the teams' journey, head-to-head records, and coaches' comments.

The TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations final is set for Sunday, May 18th, as South Africa takes on Morocco at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. This will be the second time these teams meet in the final, with Morocco winning 1-0 in the 1997 edition to claim their sole U20 AFCON title.

South Africa aims to win their first-ever U20 AFCON trophy, while Morocco seeks to add to their legacy in the tournament.

Nearly three decades after their last U20 AFCON final appearance, Morocco's Young Atlas Lions aim to recapture past success. Meanwhile, South Africa's Amajita are determined to claim their first-ever continental title at this level.

South Africa secured their spot in the final with a 1-0 semi-final win over seven-time champions Nigeria, thanks to Tylon Smith's decisive header in the 66th minute.

Morocco booked their final spot with a 1-0 win over host nation Egypt in the other semi-final. Jones El Abdellaoui scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute, latching onto Ismaël Aouad's cross to calmly slot the ball home and secure a North African derby win for the Young Atlas Lions.

Group Stage Performance

South Africa began their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Egypt, courtesy of Mohamed Abdallah's 62nd-minute goal. However, they bounced back to edge out Tanzania 1-0 with Shakeel April's 27th-minute strike, reviving their hopes. They then thrashed Sierra Leone 4-1.

In their final group match, South Africa secured a crucial 2-0 win over Zambia, further solidifying their chances.

Morocco, on the other hand, had a strong group stage run. Although the details of their matches aren't provided here, their performance ultimately led them to the final against South Africa.

South Africa's group stage campaign concluded with a 1-1 draw against Zambia, enough to secure their spot in the quarterfinals alongside Egypt. In the quarterfinals, they faced DR Congo and edged them out 1-0 in extra time, with Thabang Mahlangu scoring the decisive goal in the 109th minute.

This dramatic win propelled South Africa to the semifinals, where they would go on to defeat seven-time champions Nigeria 1-0, booking their spot in the final against Morocco.

The forward tapped in from close range after Shakeel April's precise cross, securing a crucial goal. South Africa ultimately topped Group A with seven points from two wins, one draw, and one defeat, scoring six goals and conceding three.

On the eve of the U20 AFCON final in Egypt between the SA U20 men's national team and their Morroco counterparts .....

📺 It will also be on SABC 2 and SABC Sport#U20AFCONfinal pic.twitter.com/LXvIf1B1k7

— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) May 17, 2025

Morocco, in Group B, began with a 3-2 draw against Kenya's Rising Stars, followed by a 0-0 stalemate against Nigeria's Flying Eagles. They then secured a convincing 3-1 win over Tunisia, paving their path to the final.

Morocco topped Group B with seven points, setting up a quarterfinal match against Sierra Leone. The North Africans had a tough time against the debutants, dominating possession but struggling to break down Sierra Leone's defense.

A cruel deflection ultimately decided the tie in Morocco's favor, securing their spot in the semifinals against hosts Egypt, which they won 1-0 to reach the final.

The turning point came in the 115th minute when Keita inadvertently scored an own goal under pressure, securing Morocco's spot in the semifinals and qualifying them for the FIFA U20 World Cup.

In the semifinals, Morocco went on to defeat hosts Egypt 1-0, with Jones El Abdellaoui scoring the winning goal in the 77th minute, advancing them to the final against South Africa.

Head-to-Head Records

South Africa has a concerning record against North African teams, having lost all five encounters in the tournament. This includes a loss to Morocco in the 1997 final and four 1-0 defeats to Egypt in various group stages.

In contrast, Morocco has a flawless record against Southern African teams. They won the 1997 final against South Africa and also secured victories over Lesotho (2-0) and Angola (1-0) in 2005.

If South Africa wins the final, it would mark a historic achievement, making them the 12th different nation to lift the trophy and the second team from Southern Africa to do so, following Zambia's win in 2017.

A South African win would also mean the second consecutive edition with a first-time winner, following Senegal's triumph in 2023. Notably, four of the last five winners have claimed the trophy for the first time.

In finals featuring North African teams on home soil, the North Africans have emerged victorious in each instance (1991, 1997, and 2013).

The 2025 final marks only the second time a Southern African team faces a North African team in the final, after 1997. Additionally, it's the first final since 1997 without a West African participant.

Coaches' Comments

Morocco's Coach, Mohamed Ouahbi

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised South Africa ahead of the final, calling them “a fierce competitor.” He emphasized the need for his team to stay focused, saying, “The most important match has not yet been played. The final is still ahead, and it will be against a South African team that has shown great quality throughout the tournament.”

South Africa's Coach, Raymond Mdaka

After qualifying for the final, Mdaka praised his team, saying, “Yes, another win, congratulations to the boys. What a good job, good character, very disciplined, sticking to the agreements, tactical, technical. We really appreciate it. As much as it was not easy, our boys are growing in each and every match, growing in character and growing in everything. Thank you so much and well done boys and well done for the country.”

Pre-Final Comments and Matchups

Morocco's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, showed respect for South Africa, saying, “We have a lot of respect for the South African team. They’re strong, organised, and they don’t give anything away easily. We’ll celebrate tonight, but then we rest, recover, and plan carefully for the biggest match of our lives.” He added, “We’ve come a long way, but we must now prove that we are the best. That’s what finals are for.”

Third-Place Playoff

Before the final, Nigeria will face Egypt in an early playoff match at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo to determine the third-place finisher.