South Africa Clinches Historic First U-20 AFCON Title

In a landmark achievement for South African football, the national under-20 team, known as Amajita, secured their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title by defeating Morocco 1-0 in the final held at Cairo’s June 30 Stadium on May 18, 2025.

Morocco, unbeaten throughout the tournament until the final, created several scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half. However, South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe delivered an inspired performance, making crucial saves to keep the North Africans at bay.

With this victory, South Africa’s U-20 team has qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, alongside fellow semi-finalists Morocco, Nigeria, and Egypt.

Amajita’s historic win not only adds a significant trophy to South Africa’s football achievements but also signals a promising future for the nation’s youth development programs.

At just 19 years old, Smith played a pivotal role in guiding the Amajita to their first-ever U-20 AFCON title. His composure, creativity, and ability to dictate the tempo from midfield were instrumental throughout the competition. Notably, Smith scored the decisive goal in the semi-final against Nigeria, propelling South Africa into the final.