Twenty-eight years after their iconic showdown in the 1997 final, Morocco and South Africa are set to renew their rivalry in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday in Egypt—a highly anticipated rematch steeped in history and high stakes.
Back in 1997, Morocco clinched a narrow 1-0 victory to claim their first—and so far only—U-20 AFCON title. Now, nearly three decades later, the Young Atlas Lions are eyeing a return to glory, while South Africa are hungry to rewrite history and capture their first-ever continental crown at this level.
Both teams booked their place in the final with hard-fought 1-0 wins in the semi-finals.
South Africa edged past Nigeria thanks to a crucial header from Michael Smith, while Morocco silenced the home crowd with a composed strike from Jones El Abdellaoui to eliminate hosts Egypt.
Morocco’s campaign has been defined by defensive discipline and tactical precision, maintaining a string of clean sheets in the knockout rounds. With a solid backline and sharp, opportunistic attackers, they enter the final with both momentum and legacy on their side.
On the other hand, South Africa have steadily grown stronger throughout the tournament. Their semi-final triumph over a formidable Nigerian side was a statement performance, and head coach Vela Khumalo’s squad is determined to go one step further than their predecessors did in 1997—just a year after their senior team captured the AFCON title on home soil.
With the continental title, national pride, and long-awaited redemption all on the line, Sunday’s final promises to be a thrilling contest between two determined teams looking to settle old scores and make new history.
