Latest news with #U-20AfricaCupofNations
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Amajita hero Kekana praises teamwork for goal that won SA the U-20 Afcon
Amajita's U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final hero Gomolemo Kekana, 18, is in no rush to play top-flight football, insisting he's still developing. He said his focus is on trying to return to his best shape after a long layoff last year. Kekana is on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns' DStv Diski Challenge team and has trained with the senior Brazilians on a few occasions. He engraved his name in South African football folklore by scoring the goal that saw Amajita beat Morocco 1-0 in the U-20 Afcon final in Cairo this month. 'God's timing is forever perfect, so I won't rush the process,' Kekana said. 'I am trusting the process without putting pressure on myself to say now I must play for the first team. 'I will continue to work hard and it's up to the coaches to decide whether to promote me. I am not in a rush. I've come from a long-term injury last year, so my focus is to accumulate as many minutes as I can to return to my best shape.'
Saba Yemen
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Saba Yemen
Nigeria takes third place in U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Egypt
Cairo - Saba: The Nigerian national team claimed third place in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Sunday, after defeating Egypt 4-1 on penalties. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after regular time. Omar Osama gave Egypt the lead in the third minute, before Bidemi Olalekan equalized for Nigeria in the 47th minute. After the match ended, the match went to penalty kicks, which Nigeria won 4-1. Nigeria secured third place for the fifth time in its history, having won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times. Nigeria and Egypt have both qualified for the U-20 World Cup, which will be held next September in Chile, along with the two finalists of the current Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa and Morocco. The Nigerian team lost in the semi-finals to South Africa by a clean goal, the same result by which the Egyptian team lost to its Moroccan counterpart in the same round. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
History beckons for Amajita with Under-20 Afcon title up for grabs against Morocco
Thabang Mahlangu Thabang Mahlangu (No 18, centre) celebrates scoring the winner for Amajita against DR Congo. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix South Africa's national under-20 team will face Morocco in the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday at 8pm, with the chance to lift the trophy for the first time. This will be the second meeting between the two nations in a final after Morocco edged South Africa 1-0 in 1997. That remains the only U20 Afcon title Morocco have ever won, while Amajita have yet to lift the crown – making this an opportunity 28 years in the making. The road to the final has been challenging after losing their opening match of the tournament, but the response has been gutsy under the guidance of head coach Raymond Mdaka. His young squad reached the decider after edging out fierce rivals Nigeria 1-0 in a tense semi-final clash in Ismailia on Thursday. That result confirmed their growth and determination, with Amajita showing composure and maturity against a Nigerian side many tipped for the title. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ South Africa's youth team have now appeared in seven editions of the U20 Afcon, reaching five semi-finals but only two finals. In 1997, they settled for silver, and on Sunday, they will hope to go one better. Morocco come into this match boasting a solid defensive record. They have not conceded a goal in the knockout rounds, and will rely on a confident backline that has held firm throughout the tournament. Their tactical discipline and ability to capitalise on limited chances make them a dangerous opponent in a final. For Amajita, this is a golden opportunity for redemption. Their run to the final has included tough moments, but the character shown by Mdaka's men – especially against Nigeria – suggests they are peaking at the right time. And with continental pride on the line, the technical team will urge their players to believe they can change history. This fixture is not only about the title – it's also about global representation. South Africa are already one of four nations from the continent who will play in the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile later this year, from September 27 to October 19. It's another major milestone, with the Amajita becoming the second SA national team to qualify for a junior World Cup in 2025. Earlier this year, the Under-17 side, Amajimbos, also booked their ticket to the Fifa Under-17 World Cup, which will take place in Qatar. For coach Mdaka, the final represents a reward for months of hard work and rebuilding at youth level. And for the players, many of whom are still relatively unknown in local football, Sunday's final is a chance to make their names resonate far beyond the borders of South Africa. The last time a South African men's team lifted a senior CAF trophy was in 1996. A year later, the Under-20s came close. In 2025, Amajita have the chance to finally finish what that generation started.
Ya Biladi
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Morocco U-20 coach hails deserved AFCON final spot, eyes title
The Moroccan national team's qualification for the final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is well deserved, said head coach Mohamed Ouahbi on Thursday in Cairo, emphasizing his players' determination to claim the continental title. 'Our players showed composure and unity throughout the match and should be proud of their performance,' Ouahbi told reporters following Morocco's 1–0 semi-final win over host nation Egypt. After a tightly contested first half, Morocco sought to control the rhythm of the game and create numerical superiority by pushing the full-backs forward, the coach explained. Looking ahead to the final against South Africa, Ouahbi predicted a thrilling contest that would meet public expectations. He praised his squad's performance and expressed confidence in their ability to secure a strong result. Team captain Houssam Essadak acknowledged that the match was tough, especially against an Egyptian side playing at home. He said the final presents an opportunity to repeat the success of 1997. Commenting on being named man of the match, Essadak said the honor reflected the collective effort of the team and vowed that the players would do everything possible to bring the trophy home. Egypt coach Oussama Nabih, for his part, congratulated the Moroccan team and wished them well in the final. He noted that his players were highly motivated and put in a solid performance despite the result. The final will take place on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in Cairo, where Ouahbi's squad will face South Africa, who beat Nigeria 1–0 in Ismailia thanks to a 66th-minute goal by Tylon Christopher Smith. All four semi-finalists—Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria—have qualified for the U-20 World Cup, which is set to take place from September 27 to October 19 in Chile.
See - Sada Elbalad
12-05-2025
- Sport
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt U-20 National Team Advance to 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Rana Atef On Monday, the Egyptian U-20 national football team reached a new milestone by qualifying for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, marking their ninth appearance in the tournament's history. This will be the first time for the Egyptian U-20 team to reach the global tournament in more than 12 years. They also secured a spot in the semi-finals of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The 2025 U-20 World Cup will be held in Chile from September 27 to October 19. Egypt previously participated in the tournament eight times, with their debut in 1981 and their most recent appearance in 2013. Egypt earned their qualification by defeating Ghana in a dramatic quarter-final match of the U-20 AFCON, held today, Monday, at New Suez Stadium. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, and Egypt prevailed 5-4 in the penalty shootout. read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
