South Africa claimed a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the 2025 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final match played at the Suez Stadium in Egypt on Thursday evening.

The victory saw Amajita progress to the final of the continental tournament for the second time having reached the stage in 1997. Coach Raymond Mdaka’s side will now take on either hosts, Egypt or Morocco in Sunday’s final.

The Flying Eagles saw most of the ball in the first-half, but Amajita were looking dangerous on the counter-attack with pacey duo of Kutlwano Letlhaku and Neo Rapoo operating the wide areas.

Rapoo delivered a dangerous cross into the box for Thabang Mahlangu, which saw goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt collide with his own teammate, and the ball went out for a corner-kick in the 33rd minute and the score was 0-0 at half-time following a first-half which had few chances.

Nigeria were forced to make a change as their first-choice keeper Harcourt was replaced by Ajia Yakub due to an injury six minutes into the second-half, and South Africa piled pressure on the Flying Eagles.

The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute when Rapoo’s sublime cross found eventual Man of the Match Tylon Smith, who hit the back of the net with a header and South Africa held on to secure a 1-0 victory over Nigeria.

South Africa 1 (Smith 66')
Nigeria 0

South Africa XI: Smythe-Lowe, Timba, Nkwali, Rapoo, Sibiya, Smith, Kekana, Maku, Modiba (Ah Shene 53'), Letlhaku (April 53'), Mahlangu

Nigeria XI: Harcourt (Yakub 51'), Maigari, Okoro, Bameyi, Jephta (Mendos 65'), Alabi (Ibrahim 75'), Arierhi. Ayuma, Oliseh (Benjamin 51'), Maigana (Amole 66'), Chukwu.