Cape Boys Shine At Victorious U20 AFCON Final
It was a proud day for Cape Town football, as local stars helped lead South Africa to victory in a tense U20 Afcon Final
Amajita made history in Egypt on Sunday night by lifting South Africa’s first ever African Youth Championship title. The under-20 men’s side came out on top after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Morocco in the final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
Gomolemo Kekana scored the only goal in the 70th minute after a long goal-kick from Fletcher Lowe led to a defensive mistake by Morocco. Kekana didn’t waste time and fired home.
This match brought back memories of the 1997 final, where Morocco had beaten South Africa by the same scoreline. This time, Amajita turned the tables and gave the country a result to celebrate.
There was plenty to celebrate beyond the scoreline. Coach Mdaka was named Coach of the Tournament. Eighteen-year-old shot-stopper Smythe-Lowe walked away with the award for best goalkeeper in Africa. Forward Tylon Smith was recognised as the tournament’s Best Player.
Cape Town was well represented in the squad. Faiz Abrahams from Valhalla Park, Jody Ah Shene from Ocean View, Shakeel April, Patrick Autata, and Siviwe Nkwali were all part of the success story. April and Ah Shene were brought back into the line-up after the semi-final victory over Nigeria.
Abrahams, who plays for Stellenbosch FC, came through the iKamva system and made his name in 2022 at the Bayhill Premier Cup. He made five senior appearances during Stellenbosch’s promotion-winning campaign in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Ah Shene was spotted by Cape Town City’s General Manager, Grant Veitch, at the Engen Knockout Challenge. After impressing at trials, he signed with the club at 18. His performances for Amajita included the opening goal in their 4-1 win over Sierra Leone and a powerful strike against Zambia in the 2024 Cosafa U20 competition.
April, from the Cape Town FC academy, scored the decisive goal in the win over Tanzania and picked up the Man of the Match award.
Amajita’s success in Egypt also means they’ve secured a place at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, representing South Africa along with three other African nations.
A big salute to the boys who stood tall on the night. Their talent speaks loud, and their efforts have opened the door to a world stage. The Cape will be watching closely as they head into their next chapter.
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