The curtain will finally go down to the U20 Coffee Coffee Coffee Cup tour of Africa (Afcon) when South Africa faces Morocco in the final at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo on Sunday, May 18.

In the history of the tournament organized by the African Football Confederation (CAF), South Africa AND Morocco will meet in the final for the second time. Both sides faced the 1997 publication final, which Morocco won 1-0, to seal their first and single U20 Afcon crown.

Now, nearly three decades later, atlas the new lions will aim to recover that historic success, while South Africa’s amia will be determined to return the tables and search for their continental title of girls at this level of Afcon races.

South Africa qualified to the final after a 1-0 semi-final victory against seven-time champions Nigeria on Thursday. A well-received head from Tylon Smith in the 66th minute proved crucial in a heavily contested match between two of the traditional African football houses, ending Nigeria’s hopes to win an eighth U20 Afcon title.

Meanwhile, Morocco scored their ticket to the final after eliminating the hosts Egypt 1-0 in the next semifinal collision. During the closely fought battle, replacement Jones El Abdellaoui provided the sucker marking for Egypt, finding the back of the net in the 77th minute. The attacker was locked on a well -reinforced cross by Ismael Aouad to calmly at home, and to give atlas new Lions what turned out to be the winner in Derby, North Africa.

How were South Africa and Morocco divided in group stage

Chaired by coach Raymond Mdaka, Amajita entered the tournament in Group A along with Egypt, TANZANIA, Sierra Leone AND Zambia. They launched their campaign with a 1-0 loss against Egypt, in which Northern Africans scored in the 62nd minute of Mohamed Abdallah to hold the day.

They dust their poor start from Tanzania 1-0 after Shakeel April had scored in the 27th minute, and the victory revived their hopes to make it out of the group. They followed Tanzania’s victory by Hammering Sierra Leone 4-1.

Amajita’s last match ended in a 1-1 draw against Zambia, and they thus qualified along with Egypt in the quarter-finals. In the neighborhoods, they withdrew to face Senegal.

Against Kongo, South Africa needed a 1-0 dramatic win in the extra time to become the fourth and last nation that provided their place in the semifinals. Despite a 0-0 score in regular time, the match exploded in life while Thabang Mahlangu hit the decisive goal in the 109th minute.

Forward was in the right place at the right time to enter close distance after an accurate cross from April Shakeel. After all, South Africa chaired their group with seven points out of two wins, a draw and one loss. They scored six goals and accepted three.

Meanwhile, Morocco found himself in Group B along with Nigeria, TunisiaAND Kenyawho were making their first appearance on the tournament. They departed with a 3-2 draw against Kenya’s rising stars, withdrew 0-0 against Nigeria’s Eagles Flying, before toppling Tunisia 3-1.

Morocco ended up at the top of the seven -point group, reserving a date with Sierra Leone in the last eight. It was not an easy way for Morocco against debutators Sierra Leone, as they had to fight the tooth and nail to secure the semifinal ticket.

The tense collision of the quarterfinals at the June 30 Air Defense Stadium in Cairo saw the North Africans prevailing the procedures, but tried to disrupt a determined defense of Sierra Leone, which pushed Morocco all the way before a cruel deviation resolved tie.

The decisive moment arrived at the 115th minute when Keita inadvertently turned the ball into his net pressing, giving Morocco a place in Final Four and sealing their qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup later this year.

In Semis, Morocco faced Egypt, which they defeated 1-0.

Facts of South African match vs Moroku

South Africa will go to the final, never beating a North African opposition in the tournament, losing all five meetings. In addition to the 1997 final when they lost against Morocco, they suffered four 1-0 losses against Egypt in the 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2025 stages. All five losses were in a single goal, with four ending 1-0.

Meanwhile, Morocco has a perfect record against South African teams after beating South Africa in finals in the final and secured in the 1997 group stage Lesotho (2-0) and Angola (1-0) in 2005. A victory for South Africa’s amajes in the final would make them the 12th different nation to set up the trophy and the second from South Africa after Zambia in 2017.

He would also mark the second consecutive edition to crown a winner for the first time, after Senegal’s triumph in 2023. In fact, four of the last five winners have raised the trophy for the first time.

In each of the three editions where a North African team reached the final on the house (1991, 1997 and 2013), they won the title. The final of 2025 is only the second, after 1997, presenting a South African team against a North African team, and the first final since 1997 without a West African participant.

HAVES WHAT Both coaches said?

Speaking after they qualified for the finals, Mdaka and Amajita said: “Yes, another victory, congratulations to the boys. Good work, good character, highly disciplined, adhering to agreements, tactical, technical. We really appreciate it.

“As easy as it was, our boys are growing in each match, growing in character and growing in everything. Thank you very much and boys do well and well done for the country”

Meanwhile, before the end, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised his opponents, South Africa, calling them “a fierce competitor”, and further emphasized the need for his team to quickly recover from the semifinal victory and stay focused on the competition.

“The most important match is not played yet“He said.”The final is still ahead, and will be against a South African team that has shown great quality throughout the tour.

“We have a lot of respect for the South African team. They are strong, organized and do not give anything easily. We will celebrate tonight but then rest, we will recover and plan carefully for the greatest match of our lives”

Ouahbi concluded: “We have made a long way, but now we have to prove that we are the best. For this is the finals”

However, in front of the finals, there will be an early match of the play off to decide who ends the third with Nigeria settled to take Egypt At the June 30 stadium in Cairo.

Follow the final on Sunday, May 18th at 8pm Cet