Latest news with #TotalEnergiesCAFU20AfricaCupofNations
CAF
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations: Complete list of winners since 1979
Published: Sunday, 18 May 2025 As the 2025 edition of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations concludes with South Africa crowned as winners, the spotlight also turns to the rich history of the tournament. Since its inception in 1979, the U20 AFCON has been a breeding ground for some of the continent's finest football talent. From Andre Ayew to Kanu Nwankwo, many African legends made their first mark at this youth tournament before dazzling on the global stage. The competition has grown in stature over the decades, serving as both a continental showdown and a qualifier for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. It has also mirrored the rise of national football projects, with countries like Nigeria and Ghana dominating the honours list while emerging nations have occasionally made their mark. With South Africa winning their maiden title they join an elite group of champions, the 2025 final adds another chapter to an already storied competition. Following South Africa's victory in Egypt, here is a look at every past winner of the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations – List of Past Winners Year Winner Host Country 1979 Algeria Mali 1981 Egypt Egypt 1983 Nigeria Nigeria 1985 Nigeria Nigeria 1987 Nigeria Ethiopia 1989 Nigeria Nigeria 1991 Egypt Egypt 1993 Ghana Mauritius 1995 Cameroon Nigeria 1997 Ghana Morocco 1999 Nigeria Ghana 2001 Angola Ethiopia 2003 Egypt Burkina Faso 2005 Nigeria Benin 2007 Congo Republic of Congo 2009 Ghana Rwanda 2011 Nigeria South Africa 2013 Egypt Algeria 2015 Nigeria Senegal 2017 Zambia Zambia 2019 Mali Niger 2021 Ghana Mauritania 2023 Senegal Egypt 2025 South Africa Egypt The 2025 champion South Africa will join this elite list as a new entrant. As history continues to unfold, Africa's youth talent remains one of the continent's greatest exports to the world of football.
CAF
18-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco, South Africa set to meet in the final once more after 28-years
A new chapter will be written in African youth football history this Sunday when South Africa's U20 men's national team face Morocco in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. Amajita's Redemption Story It's been 28 years since Amajita last reached the final of the continental youth showpiece – a heartbreaking 1997 defeat to none other than Morocco. Now, led by head coach Raymond Mdaka, the class of 2025 has a chance to rewrite that script and etch their names into African football history. Their road to the final has been anything but smooth. After opening their campaign with a narrow defeat to hosts Egypt, questions were raised. But the group rallied, growing stronger with each outing. A crucial final grouo match draw with Zambia secured top spot in Group A, while commanding wins over Sierra Leone and DR Congo followed in the knockout rounds. In the semi-finals, it was Tylon Smith's 66th-minute strike – expertly set up by the influential Neo Rapoo – that downed Nigeria 1-0 in Ismailia and booked South Africa's second-ever final berth. Earlier in the quarter-finals, Thabang Mahlangu's extra-time goal had already ensured World Cup qualification for Chile 2025. Mdaka has rotated wisely and kept his squad motivated throughout, even after key players like Siyabonga Mabena (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates) were ruled out pre-tournament. His tactical nous and belief in youth have paid off handsomely, with goals shared across the squad and a rock-solid defensive line anchored by Teboho Pitso and captain Jody Ahshene. Morocco's Relentless March On the other side of the pitch, Morocco arrive with an equally compelling story. The Young Atlas Lions have not lost in open play in over 12 matches at this level and have built their campaign on structure, resilience, and timely goals. After topping Group B unbeaten – including a 3-2 win over Kenya and a 3-1 triumph against Tunisia – Morocco edged past Sierra Leone in the quarter-finals via an own goal deep in extra time, before a disciplined 1-0 victory over hosts Egypt in the semi-final sealed their return to the final for the first time since 2005. Their head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has been clear: 'The most important match has not yet been played.' The Moroccan boss praised South Africa's quality and insists his side must be at their very best to overcome a 'strong, organised and determined' opponent. Striker Jones El Abdellaoui has emerged as a match-winner off the bench, while the likes of Ismaël Aouad and Ayman Safsafi have played key creative roles. Morocco boast the tournament's highest shot conversion rate and have not conceded a goal in their last three matches – a testament to their compact defensive unit. Final On A Knife's Edge While Morocco bring pedigree and tactical control, South Africa offer raw spirit, attacking flair, and the psychological motivation of avenging their 1997 loss. Both nations have already achieved their initial goals of World Cup qualification – but there is no doubt that the continent's crown remains the ultimate prize. Will Amajita finally lift the trophy that eluded them in the past, or will Morocco complete their 20-year journey back to the top? Africa waits.
CAF
17-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON Final: Morocco, South Africa prepare to meet in the final once more after 28-years
A new chapter will be written in African youth football history this Sunday when South Africa's U20 men's national team face Morocco in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. Amajita's Redemption Story It's been 28 years since Amajita last reached the final of the continental youth showpiece – a heartbreaking 1997 defeat to none other than Morocco. Now, led by head coach Raymond Mdaka, the class of 2025 has a chance to rewrite that script and etch their names into African football history. Their road to the final has been anything but smooth. After opening their campaign with a narrow defeat to hosts Egypt, questions were raised. But the group rallied, growing stronger with each outing. A crucial final grouo match draw with Zambia secured top spot in Group A, while commanding wins over Sierra Leone and DR Congo followed in the knockout rounds. In the semi-finals, it was Tylon Smith's 66th-minute strike – expertly set up by the influential Neo Rapoo – that downed Nigeria 1-0 in Ismailia and booked South Africa's second-ever final berth. Earlier in the quarter-finals, Thabang Mahlangu's extra-time goal had already ensured World Cup qualification for Chile 2025. Mdaka has rotated wisely and kept his squad motivated throughout, even after key players like Siyabonga Mabena (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates) were ruled out pre-tournament. His tactical nous and belief in youth have paid off handsomely, with goals shared across the squad and a rock-solid defensive line anchored by Teboho Pitso and captain Jody Ahshene. Morocco's Relentless March On the other side of the pitch, Morocco arrive with an equally compelling story. The Young Atlas Lions have not lost in open play in over 12 matches at this level and have built their campaign on structure, resilience, and timely goals. After topping Group B unbeaten – including a 3-2 win over Kenya and a 3-1 triumph against Tunisia – Morocco edged past Sierra Leone in the quarter-finals via an own goal deep in extra time, before a disciplined 1-0 victory over hosts Egypt in the semi-final sealed their return to the final for the first time since 2005. Their head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has been clear: 'The most important match has not yet been played.' The Moroccan boss praised South Africa's quality and insists his side must be at their very best to overcome a 'strong, organised and determined' opponent. Striker Jones El Abdellaoui has emerged as a match-winner off the bench, while the likes of Ismaël Aouad and Ayman Safsafi have played key creative roles. Morocco boast the tournament's highest shot conversion rate and have not conceded a goal in their last three matches – a testament to their compact defensive unit. Final On A Knife's Edge While Morocco bring pedigree and tactical control, South Africa offer raw spirit, attacking flair, and the psychological motivation of avenging their 1997 loss. Both nations have already achieved their initial goals of World Cup qualification – but there is no doubt that the continent's crown remains the ultimate prize. Will Amajita finally lift the trophy that eluded them in the past, or will Morocco complete their 20-year journey back to the top? Africa waits.
CAF
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa book FIFA U20 World Cup spots
Published: Tuesday, 13 May 2025 Africa's four representatives for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ have now been confirmed, with Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa all sealing qualification by reaching the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The four sides booked their tickets following hard-fought quarter-final victories in a day filled with tension, drama, and high stakes. Morocco were the first to punch their ticket, edging Sierra Leone 1-0 after extra time thanks to a late own goal. The tightly contested match was decided in the 115th minute, ending Sierra Leone's impressive debut campaign. Hosts Egypt joined them after a thrilling comeback against Ghana. Trailing 2-0, the young Pharaohs forced penalties with a last-gasp equaliser and held their nerve in the shootout to win 5-4 and book a return to the global stage. Nigeria, the continent's most decorated U20 side, advanced after defeating defending champions Senegal on penalties. The Flying Eagles kept calm under pressure to seal their record 14th appearance at the U20 World Cup. South Africa completed the quartet with a 1-0 extra-time win over DR Congo, thanks to Thabang Mahlangu's decisive strike deep into added time. The qualification of these four sides maintains Africa's strong tradition at the U20 global showpiece, with each team now shifting its focus to the semi-finals—and ultimately the continental crown. The FIFA U-20 World Cup takes place in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025.
CAF
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Flying Eagles aim for World Cup ticket in quarter-final showdown with Senegal
Published: Sunday, 11 May 2025 Nigeria U20 head coach Aliyu Zubair says his side is fully focused and mentally prepared for Monday's high-stakes quarter-final clash against Senegal at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025. The Flying Eagles take on the defending champions in Ismailia, with the winner securing not just a place in the semi-finals but also qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year. In an exclusive interview with Zubair emphasized that his team's primary objective is to secure their World Cup slot before entertaining thoughts of winning the continental title. 'We don't want to pursue two things at the same time,' Zubair said. 'First things first, and that is getting the ticket to the World Cup. That's where all our attention is. We are gathering momentum and I believe we are in a ready stage now.' Despite Nigeria's unbeaten run in the group stage, their campaign has drawn criticism for inconsistency—especially following their 2-2 draw against an already eliminated Kenya side. Zubair, however, remains confident. 'People were underrating Kenya, thinking they are pushovers,' he said. 'But Kenya gave a good account of themselves. We are meeting Senegal now, and we will face the match accordingly. I believe nothing is stopping us, by God's grace.' Senegal, winners in 2023, also had a mixed group phase—drawing with the Central African Republic, losing to Ghana, and only confirming their place in the last eight with a decisive 2-0 win over DR Congo. Zubair acknowledges Senegal's status but insists Nigeria will not be intimidated. 'We respect all opponents, including Senegal as defending champions. But Nigeria has been in that position before. This time, we are coming to be the ones to stop them and run our race into the semi-finals.' With seven U20 AFCON titles to their name, Nigeria remains the most successful team in the competition's history. A win on Monday would move them one step closer to an eighth crown and secure a return to the global stage. 'We are very confident,' Zubair declared. 'We want to get to the semi-final—just to win the match.' Kick-off is at 12:00 GMT on Monday at Ismailia Stadium.
