Gomolemo Kekana scored a sublime goal to see South Africa defeat Morocco 1-0 in the final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), held at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening.

The victory sees Amajita win the U-20 AFCON for the first time in history, joining Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Zambia, Algeria, Morocco, Angola and Congo as champions of the youth continental tournament.

South Africa almost claimed the lead as early as the third minute, as Jody Ah Shene latched onto a poor back-pass from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, but was denied at close range by Morocco goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch.

Midway through the first half, Morocco threatened via Ilias Boumassaoudi, who cut inside from the left and fired off a drive which was brilliantly saved by Amajita goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe.

SA immediately counter-attacked and Shakeel April forced another sharp save from Yanis Benchaouch, with a powerful shot from the right of the penalty area.

Lowe made another excellent save to keep the score line blank in the 25th minute, reacting well to Mouad Dahak’s deflected drive and turning the ball around the post for a corner kick.

The match became somewhat scrappy in the final 20 minutes of the first half, with both teams guilty of some cynical fouls – bringing yellow cards for Fouad Zahouani, Thato Sibiya and Reda Laalaoui.

The sides continued to cancel each other out through the opening phase of the second half, until Amajita hit the back of the net with a stunning strike from Gomolemo Kekana in the 70th minute.

The midfielder capitalised on a mistake from Laalaoui, who missed Lowe’s clearance, before pushing up to the ‘D’ of Morocco’s penalty area, and then firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

South Africa’s celebrations were cut short by the offside flag, but a VAR review confirmed that Kekana was in fact onside, and the goal was awarded.

Morocco should have levelled the game on 83 minutes when Hamza Koutoune provided a dangerous cross from the right by-line to pick out Othmane Maamma, but the winger failed to hit the target with a close-range header.

SA’s April almost killed off the game in the 88th minute, leading a counter attack down the right flank, but just as in the first half, the speedy winger was denied by a sharp save from Benchaouch.

Amajita rebuffed late pressure from Morocco to secure a famous triumph and ensure that they will head to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in September and October as the Champions of Africa.

South Africa U-20 (0) 1 (G. Kekana 70’)

Morocco U-20 0

SA: F. Lowe, S. Timba, T. Smith, S. Nkwali, T. Sibiya, L. Maku, G. Kekana, S. April, M. Vilakazi (P. Autata 56’), N. Rapoo, J. Ah Shene (T. Mahlangu 56’)

Morocco: Y. Benchaouch, H. Koutoune, A. Ait Boudlal, I. Baouf, F. Zahouani (A. Kharroubi 66’), H. Essadak, R. Laalaoui (A. Boayar 79’), O. Maamma (A. Arguigue 85’), M. Dahak (I. Aouad 46’), I. Boumassaoudi (I. Habri 66’), J. El Abdellaoui