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CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco learn U-20 World Cup opponents tonight
The four African representatives at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025—South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco—will discover their group stage opponents tonight when the official draw is held in Santiago, Chile. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 22:00 GMT. Twenty-four nations will be drawn into six groups of four, kicking off the countdown to the global showpiece that will take place from 27 September to 19 October 2025 across Chile. South Africa enter the draw as African champions after a resilient campaign at the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which culminated in a 1-0 win over Morocco in the final in Cairo. Their reward is a place in Pot 3, alongside Japan, Spain, Australia, Panama, and Norway, ensuring they avoid these teams in the group phase. Nigeria, a powerhouse in youth football and third-place finishers at the U-20 AFCON, benefit from their strong pedigree and are placed in Pot 2. The Flying Eagles join heavyweights such as France, Argentina, and Mexico in that pot, meaning they won't face any of those sides in the initial round. Egypt and Morocco, both semi-finalists at the continental tournament, find themselves in Pot 4. Their lower seeding, due to fewer recent appearances at the U-20 World Cup, increases the likelihood of drawing multiple top-ranked nations, including tournament hosts Chile or former champions Brazil and Italy from Pot 1. With top talents such as Tylon Smith—South Africa's Player of the Tournament—and Moroccan winger Jones El-Abdellaoui set to feature, the African quartet will be keenly watching as their journey in Chile begins to take shape tonight. Africa has a rich history in youth tournaments, and with all four sides showing promise during qualifying, expectations are high for a strong showing. The draw will determine whether the continent's finest young stars can rise to the challenge on the global stage. Fans across the continent can follow news on as the path to Chile 2025 officially begins. Draw procedures The nations will be drawn into six groups of four teams. For the draw, the teams have been allocated into four pots of six teams, according to the FIFA ranking system. As hosts, Chile have automatically been placed in Pot 1. Pot 1: Chile (hosts), Italy, USA, Korea Republic, Brazil, Colombia Pot 2: New Zealand, France, Ukraine, Argentina, Nigeria, Mexico Pot 3: Japan, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Panama, Norway Pot 4: Saudi Arabia, Paraguay, Egypt, Cuba, Morocco, New Caledonia
Morocco World
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
When and How to Watch Egypt vs Nigeria in the U20 AFCON Bronze Medal Match
Rabat – As hosts of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Egypt's Young Pharaohs are preparing to fight for a podium finish in the bronze medal match against Nigeria's Flying Eagles. The highly anticipated encounter will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, kicking off at 16:00 GMT+1. Egypt, buoyed by home support, booked their spot in the FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup after a strong run in the tournament. They advanced to the semifinals by defeating Ghana on penalties following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. However, their hopes of reaching the final were dashed with a narrow 1-0 loss to Morocco in the North African derby. Nigeria's Flying Eagles have meanwhile resilience throughout the competition. They opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Tunisia and a goalless draw against Morocco in the group stage, before finishing with a 2-2 draw against Kenya. The Nigerian side then edged past Senegal on penalties in the quarterfinals but fell 1-0 to South Africa's Amajita in the semifinals. Notably, Nigeria defeated Egypt 2-1 in a friendly match prior to the tournament, adding an extra layer of rivalry and anticipation to this bronze medal showdown. Fans can watch the Nigeria vs. Egypt bronze battle live on Sunday at 16:00 GMT+1 via Startimes, DSTV, and CAF TV. Later the same day, Morocco will face South Africa in the U20 AFCON final at 19:00 GMT+1, aiming to claim the championship trophy. Tags: AFCON 2025Egypt vs Nigeria
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Mdaka hails Amajita character as they beat Nigeria to reach AFCON final
'Yes, another win, congratulations to the boys," said Mdaka. South African Under-20 coach Raymond Mdaka has praised his side's character and tactical maturity after they beat Nigeria on Thursday to reach the final of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Tylon Smith scored the only goal of the match as Amajita beat the Flying Eagles 1-0 in a semifinal match played at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt on Thursday night. OPINION: Sundowns have turned the Premiership into a farmer's league Speaking after the game, Mdaka said they have grown with each passing game in the tournament and shown a lot of character. '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,' Mdaka told SAFA media. Amajita started their AFCON campaign with a defeat to the hosts Egypt, but they regrouped to eventually march to the final for the first time in 28 years. Their last appearance in the Afcon finals was back in 1997, where they lost against Morocco. Ironically, they will face the same opponent in the final at the 30th June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday. 'As much 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,' commented Mdaka. ALSO READ: Chiefs' Dove calls for focus as Amakhosi seek out MTN8 spot By reaching the semifinals of the AFCON, Amajita also qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Amajita's historic win: South Africa defeat Nigeria to reach Under-20 Afcon final
Amajita beat Nigeria Tylon Smith celebrates with teammates after scoring South Africa's winning goal during their CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Tylon Smith scored the only goal of the game as South Africa beat Nigeria 1-0 to advance to the final of the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Thursday. Smith's 66th minute header was enough to earn the win and send Amajita, who had already qualified for the Under-20 World Cup, into the final of the tournament. South Africa will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Morocco and hosts Egypt. In a tight encounter, South Africa's discipline at the back proved to be the deciding factor against a Flying Eagles side that looked the better team on the night. The Nigerians had 21 shots at goal, compared to South Africa's six, and saw more of the ball. But, they weren't able to breach Fletcher Smythe-Lowe's goal. The 18-year-old Smythe-Lowe produced a number of top saves to deny Emmanuel Chukwu and Israel Ayuma from scoring for the Nigerians.
TimesLIVE
15-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Amajita stun Nigeria and reach first Afcon U-20 final in 28 years
Amajita weathered a first-half storm, bravely regrouped and produced a second-half winner against the direction of play of the semifinal to stun Nigeria 1-0 and reach their second Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations final. Tylon Smith's 66th-minute headed goal at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia earned coach Raymond Mdaka's team the glory of a place in Sunday's final (8pm SA time), where they will meet either hosts Egypt or Morocco, who were playing in the later semifinal in Cairo (8pm SA time). This makes for the best performance by South Africa in the tournament since the under-20 team coached by Shakes Mashaba that contained stars like Benni McCarthy, Matthew Booth, Junaid Hartley and Stanton Fredericks lost 1-0 to hosts Morocco in the 1997 final. Amajita were fortunate to not go to the break a goal down after a first half where they at times had to desperately defend, the South Africans battling with Nigeria's physical presence and movement in attack. The Flying Eagles were let down by their finishing. In the 17th minute left-back Odinaka Okoro's corner from the right landed on South Africa goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe's crossbar. On the half-hour Kparobo Arierhi cantered free down the right and shot into the side-netting. SuperSport United left-back Neo Rapoo's overlapping was South Africa's best source of impetus, keeping them from being completely on the back foot. From his cross Amajita top scorer and SuperSport teammate Thabang Mahlangu got up to beat goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt and bundle a header wide. Twice as the break approached Nigeria left wing Clinton Jephta fed Arierhi, the striker volleying over the bar then seeing a shot deflected for a corner off Smith. The South Africans were far more effective keeping the Eagles at bay from the break. Amajita right-back Sfiso Timba's drive just before the hour was well wide. Then the South Africans took the lead. Rapoo's corner from the left was cleared back to the defender who played in a seemingly speculative, lobbed cross with his weaker right boot to Smith. Harcourt came and missed by a long way allowing Smith to loop a header in. Nigeria showed signs of panic after going a goal down, battling to get their attacking movements flowing again. In the 89th, substitute Precious Benjamin was played into space on the right and crossed for Israel Ayuma to head powerfully from close range, Lowe producing a superb reflex stop to deny Nigeria their best chance to send the game to extra time.
