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CAF
18-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
WHERE TO WATCH: TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Published: Sunday, 18 May 2025 The eyes of the continent will be focussed on Cairo on Sunday night when the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025 is staged between South Africa and Morocco. The much anticipated encounter, which is a repeat of the 1997 decider between the same two sides, will take place at 18:00 GMT (21:00 local time) at the 30 June Stadium. As two of the continent's most exciting young sides prepare to battle for top honours, CAF has confirmed the list of broadcasters that will televise the match live. You can watch the Final Live on various platforms including beIN Sport (MENA, France, Asia-Pacific and Americas), Canal+ (sub-Saharan Africa), SuperSport (sub-Saharan Africa), New World TV (sub-Saharan Africa), Azam Media, SABC and On-Time Sport. CAF's YouTube official page, CAF TV, will show the match in the rest of the world but not in the MENA region and other selected sub-Saharan territories.
CAF
17-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025 Newsletter looks back at incredible tournament ahead of final
Published: Saturday, 17 May 2025 The TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025 will conclude on Sunday when Morocco and South Africa clash in the final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo at 21:00 local time (18:00 GMT). It has been a thrilling tournament to date, filled with fantastic football, intriguing clashes and young rising stars of the continent who have shown the world they have a bright future in the game. Ahead of the final, CAF have created a newsletter that looks back on the tournament, provides insight into the players and coaches, and highlights the views of members of the CAF Technical Study Group and scouts from top clubs. We look back at the key stories from the tournament, the numbers behind the event and the top five matches to whet the appetite ahead of Sunday's decider. To download the newsletter, CLICK HERE.
CAF
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
From Freetown to Fame: How Momoh Kamara lit up Egypt
At just 20 years old, Momoh Kamara has emerged as the undisputed heartbeat of Sierra Leone's U20 side at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2025. His combination of poise, power and precision has not only helped the tournament debutants reach the quarter-finals, but has also turned him into one of Africa's brightest young stars. Kamara's exploits—from a stunning hat-trick against hosts Egypt to a commanding all-round midfield display across four matches—have earned him the Player of the Group Stage and Top Scorer accolades , with four goals to his name. While Sierra Leone's run ended in heartbreak against Morocco, Kamara's story is just beginning. From Kambia to Cairo: A Journey Fuelled by Grit Born in Kambia Town and raised in the tough neighborhoods of East End Freetown, Kamara's journey is a testament to perseverance. He began honing his craft at Mattia Football Club, a grassroots outfit known for producing raw talent. A move to Diamond Stars FC and later a stint with Leixões SC B in Portugal added polish to his natural game. His first real taste of international spotlight came during the WAFU Zone A qualifiers, where he led Sierra Leone to their maiden U20 AFCON qualification, bagging the Best Player award in the process. "I played barefoot in the streets, dreaming of this," Kamara said. "To be here, representing Sierra Leone, and to lead the team to our first AFCON is something I'll never forget." A Breakout Tournament If the qualifiers hinted at his potential, Kamara's performances in Egypt confirmed it. After a cagey 0-0 opener against Zambia, Kamara exploded in the second match—scoring a sensational hat-trick against the host nation. He added another goal against South Africa, finishing the group stage as the tournament's leading scorer. "Momoh is different," said coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara. "He has the heart of a lion and the feet of an artist. He doesn't just play football—he lives it. He makes others better." Despite Sierra Leone falling 1-0 to Morocco in the quarter-finals, Kamara stood tall, delivering yet another mature performance against one of the continent's top teams. His impact was recognized as he was named in the CAF Technical Study Group Best XI for the group phase. American Dream: From Freetown to Minnesota Kamara's talents haven't gone unnoticed. Ahead of the tournament, he sealed a move to Minnesota United FC 2 in the USA's MLS NEXT Pro, on loan from Mattia FC, with a purchase option. "Joining Minnesota is a big step," Kamara said. "It's the next challenge. But I know I can handle it. Playing in Egypt gave me confidence that I can thrive anywhere." Amos Magee, MNUFC's Head of Player Development, called him 'a creative and determined young talent with a real nose for goal.' His signing is being closely watched in MLS circles, with many predicting he could soon make the jump to Minnesota's first team. A Future Built on Ambition Kamara has already earned two senior caps for Sierra Leone, debuting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. As interest from European clubs grows, he remains grounded. "My focus now is to keep growing, to help my club and country," he said. "I dream of playing in the Champions League one day. But for now, I'm working every day to improve." His maturity off the pitch mirrors his intelligence on it. He speaks like a veteran, yet plays with the hunger of someone who knows where he came from. More Than a Star For Sierra Leone, Kamara represents more than just goals and glamour. He symbolizes the potential of a nation often overlooked in African football. His rise is inspiring a new generation of players back home. "He's not just our leader on the field," said teammate Alpha Turay. "He's a role model for the entire country." And as the dust settles on Sierra Leone's historic U20 AFCON campaign, Momoh Kamara leaves Cairo not just as a breakout star—but as a name Africa won't soon forget.
CAF
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
DR Congo U20 coach Bukasa steps down after elimination, leaves legacy of progress
Published: Wednesday, 14 May 2025 DR Congo's U-20 national team coach, Guy Bukasa, has stepped down following his side's elimination from the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025. The Leopards suffered a narrow 1-0 extra-time defeat to South Africa in Ismailia, ending their hopes of a maiden semi-final appearance and qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Bukasa confirmed that he would not be continuing in his role after two years in charge. 'There will be no future for me in this category. I'll stop here,' Bukasa said in a report on 'I thank those who believed in us – the Federation, the government, and everyone who supported this journey.' Bukasa's decision draws the curtain on a tenure that saw DR Congo make strides at youth level despite the disappointment in Egypt. The 44-year-old coach, appointed to reinvigorate a stagnant youth system, oversaw a significant improvement in structure, tactical discipline, and player development. Under his watch, the Leopards returned to the U-20 AFCON after a 12-year absence and advanced past the group stage in one of the tournament's most competitive pools. A Sense of Fulfilment Despite Early Exit Despite the painful elimination, Bukasa expressed pride in his squad, particularly the effort and maturity shown by the young players during the competition. 'These boys, these 24 soldiers, gave everything,' he said. 'Even those who couldn't make the final squad were part of the journey. They followed strict discipline and showed commitment on and off the pitch.' The DR Congo U20s battled through Group C, holding Ghana 1-1, beating Central African Republic 3-1, and narrowly losing to Senegal 2-0. Their performance showed promise, but the defeat to South Africa in extra time highlighted the thin margins that define knockout football. A Void to Fill for Congolese Football Bukasa's departure now leaves the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) with the challenge of identifying a new leader to steer the team through upcoming qualifiers for the African Games and the next U-20 AFCON. His exit also reignites discussions about the long-term development of youth football in DR Congo, a country known for producing elite football talent but lacking consistency in youth competitions. Bukasa acknowledged this structural gap: 'In our country, youth football isn't yet embedded in our sporting culture. We tried to change that. Unfortunately, it stops here for me.' While the coach may be stepping away, many hope the foundations he laid will endure and that the Leopards' next generation can build on this progress.
CAF
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
MATCH FACTS: South Africa battle old foe Nigeria in TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON semi-final
South Africa and Nigeria meet in a heavyweight encounter at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025 with a semi-final at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Thursday (kick-off 18:00 local time / 15:00 GMT). It marks the fourth meeting between at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON. In their previous three encounters, Nigeria claimed one victory in open play, South Africa won once on penalties, and the other match ended in a draw. Their first meeting came in the 2009 third-place playoff, where Nigeria secured a 2-1 win. George Maluleka opened the scoring for South Africa in the 8th minute, before Ibrahim Rabiu equalized in the 15th minute and Frank Temile netted the winner just before halftime. In 2019, the teams met twice – once in the group stage and again in the third-place playoff. Both games ended 0-0, with South Africa winning the playoff 5-3 on penalties to take the bronze medal. SOUTH AFRICA FACTS · By reaching the semi-finals, South Africa have secured qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, marking their fifth appearance at the global finals. · It will also be their first U-20 World Cup appearance in South America, having previously featured in editions hosted in Asia (Malaysia and South Korea), Africa (Egypt), and Europe (Poland). · After a 1-0 opening defeat to hosts Egypt, South Africa have gone unbeaten in four matches (W3 D1). They recorded back-to-back group stage wins against Tanzania (1-0) and Sierra Leone (4-1), drew 1-1 with Zambia, and then edged DR Congo 1-0 in the quarter-finals. · Their three wins at this tournament represent their most in open play at a single edition. · This is South Africa's fifth appearance in the semi-finals. They have reached this stage in 1997, 2009, 2017, and 2019, advancing beyond the group stage three times in a row now. On two occasions – 1997 and 2019 – they made the last four after failing to win their opening match. · In 1997, they lost to Côte d'Ivoire but went on to finish as runners-up; in 2019, a draw with Niger led to a third-place finish. · South Africa's semi-final record, including penalty shootouts, reads: P4 W1 L3. Their only win came against Ghana in 1997 (1-1 draw, 4-3 on penalties). · They have since lost three straight semi-finals: a 4-3 defeat to Ghana in 2009 after trailing 4-1, a 1-0 extra-time loss to hosts Zambia in 2017, and a 1-0 loss to Senegal in 2019 via an own goal by Givemore Khupe. All of South Africa's semi-final losses have come in open play. · This will be South Africa's fourth match at the Suez Canal Stadium in this tournament. They have a perfect record at the venue so far, beating Tanzania 1-0, Sierra Leone 4-1, and DR Congo 1-0. · Their other two matches – against Egypt (1-0 loss) and Zambia (1-1 draw) – were played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. · The win over DR Congo was South Africa's first knockout victory in open play at the tournament in nine attempts. Their only other knockout wins came via penalties against Ghana in 1997 and Nigeria in 2019. · They have won both of their shootouts at the finals: 4-3 against Ghana in 1997 and 5-3 against Nigeria in 2019. · South Africa have gone four matches unbeaten (W3 D1) for the first time in the competition's history. They have faced West African opponents in three knockout matches before, winning only once – on penalties against Ghana in 1997. They lost semi-finals to Ghana (2009) and Senegal (2019). · Thabang Mahlangu scored the winner against DR Congo, his third of the tournament and South Africa's seventh goal overall. Another goal would make him the first South African to score four goals at the finals since Luther Singh in 2017. Mahlangu is currently the second-highest scorer in the tournament, one behind Sierra Leone's Momoh Kamara. · Shakeel April provided the assist for Mahlangu's goal, taking his tournament tally to three goal involvements (one goal, two assists) – the highest for any South African player. · South Africa completed 406 of 509 attempted passes in the quarter-final win over DR Congo, achieving a passing accuracy of 79.8%. · Goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe has made 19 saves – more than any other keeper at the tournament. NIGERIA FACTS · Nigeria began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Tunisia, followed by a 0-0 draw with Morocco and a 2-2 draw with Kenya. · They then beat Senegal on penalties (3-1) after a goalless draw in the quarter-finals. Their only victory in open play came in their opener against Tunisia. · They have conceded just two goals in four matches – the fewest among the semi-finalists – and kept three clean sheets, tied with Egypt for the most, despite having played one fewer game. · This is Nigeria's 17th appearance in the semi-finals. They are aiming for a record-extending 10th final and a first since 2015. They previously reached the final in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2015. · This is their ninth consecutive semi-final appearance in tournaments they have qualified for. · Nigeria's overall semi-final record (including penalty shootouts) is P16 W9 L7. They have lost their last two – against Gambia in 2023 and Mali on penalties in 2019. Their last semi-final win came in 2015 against Ghana. Prior to that, they lost to Egypt in 2013. · Their current streak of nine consecutive semi-final appearances is their best ever. Their previous best run was six consecutive appearances from 1979 to 1989, during which they won four titles (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989). · Since 2005, in a run of eight straight semi-final appearances, Nigeria have won four and lost four. In the last four semi-finals they won, they went on to win the title three times – in 2005, 2011, and 2015 – finishing runners-up in 2007. · When the tournament has been held in North Africa, Nigeria have always reached the semi-finals. · Nigeria's record in penalty shootouts stands at P4 W2 L2. They beat Morocco in the 2005 semi-finals (2-2, 5-3 on penalties) and Senegal in the current quarter-finals (0-0, 3-1 on penalties). · Their two shootout losses came in 2019 – against Mali in the semi-finals (1-1, lost on penalties) and South Africa in the third-place playoff (0-0, lost on penalties). · They have managed just three goals en route to the semi-finals – their lowest ever tally to reach this stage. Despite having seven shots on target in their quarter-final against Senegal, they failed to score. · Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt made five saves against Senegal – his highest in a single game – and has kept three clean sheets, tied for the most with Egypt's Abdel Monem Tamer and Zambia's Levison Banda, both of whom have played an extra game. · In their last two matches, Nigeria's opponents registered five shots on target each. The only goals conceded came in the 2-2 draw with Kenya. · This is Nigeria's second match at the Suez Canal Stadium, following their quarter-final win over Senegal. Their three group stage matches were played in Cairo.
