The U20 Africa Cup of Nations resumes Thursday evening, with Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and hosts Egypt all vying to dethrone Senegal as Africa’s reigning champions.
After triumphing in their quarter-final clashes, the Flying Eagles, Amajita, Junior Atlas Lions and Young Pharaohs have all booked their spots at the upcoming global football showpiece in Chile.
All but South Africa have previously conquered the continent, with the Flying Eagles standing tall as Africa’s most successful team - boasting a record seven titles, the last of which came in 2015.
South Africa vs Nigeria
Nigeria kicked off the tournament with a narrow 1-0 victory over pre-tournament favourites Tunisia, courtesy of Auwal Ibrahim’s first-half strike.
They then held Morocco to a goalless draw before surviving a scare against Kenya, salvaging a 2-2 draw thanks to Daniel Bameyi’s late equaliser.
In the quarter-final, the Flying Eagles held their nerve to eliminate defending champions Senegal in a penalty shootout, after a tense 0-0 stalemate over 120 minutes.
On the other hand, South Africa - making just their ninth appearance in the competition - began with a narrow defeat to hosts Egypt, as Mohamed El Hadad struck the winner in the 62nd minute in Cairo.
Amajita bounced back by securing crucial wins over Tanzania and Sierra Leone, before playing out a 1-1 draw with Zambia in their final group match.
South Africa sealed their spot in the U20 World Cup and the semi-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo, as Thabang Mahlangu emerged the hero with an extra-time winner.
Ray Mdaka’s boys face a tough challenge in Nigeria, though history suggests a balanced rivalry between the two sides.
In their three previous U20 AFCON meetings, they’ve lost one, drawn one, and won one via penalties, highlighting how closely contested this rivalry has been.
Unlike South Africa, who are making just their fifth appearance in the biennial football showpiece, the Nigerian boys are featuring in their ninth consecutive semi-final in tournaments they’ve qualified for.
What has been said:
"We will do everything to bring the trophy back home. We’re going fully for the trophy after we secured our place at the World Cup.
"I was at the stadium and watched South Africa against DR Congo. We therefore have a good idea of how they play. They’re a good side, but we hope to neutralise their strengths and capitalise on their weaknesses." – Nigeria coach Aliyu Zubairu
Venue: Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
Time: 18:00 (West African Time)
Morocco vs Egypt
Hosts Egypt began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa but were later stunned by a 4-1 defeat to Sierra Leone, with Momoh Kamara netting a hat-trick in a dominant display.
Following that reality check, Egypt managed only a goalless draw against Zambia before narrowly edging Tanzania 1-0 in their final Group A match to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Super-sub goalkeeper Ahmed Menshawy emerged as the hero in the quarter-finals, helping Egypt edge past Ghana in a tense penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw following extra time.
Like Egypt, Morocco got off to a strong start with a 3-2 win over Kenya, followed by a goalless draw against Nigeria, and capped their Group B campaign with an impressive 3-1 triumph over Tunisia.
The Young Atlas Lions scraped past Sierra Leone in the quarter-final, needing an own goal from Amara Keita to secure their place in the semi-finals.
The semi-final sets the stage for a North African showdown, as two regional powerhouses go head-to-head in a clash brimming with intensity and high stakes.
Renowned for their tactical discipline and attacking flair, both sides have displayed remarkable resilience to navigate challenges and reach this crucial point in the tournament.
Egypt are unbeaten in their last five finals meetings with Morocco. In their six previous encounters at the tournament, the two sides have produced 17 goals - averaging an exciting 2.83 goals per game.
What has been said:
“This match is like an Arab final. Morocco is a strong and well-organised opponent. They’ve been impressive across all levels, and we must rise to the challenge.
"The pressure of qualifying for the World Cup was massive. Now that the players have done it, they’ve gained psychological stability. It gives them peace of mind to focus on playing their football.” - Egypt coach Osama Nabih.
“We respect the Egyptian national team a lot. They are determined, resilient, and have quality players. But we want to win this championship. We achieved our first goal by qualifying for the World Cup - now we want to finish the job.
"Our philosophy is simple: we don’t concern ourselves with referees, the pitch, or the crowd. We focus on ourselves - our game plan, our discipline, and seizing our opportunities.” - Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
Venue: 30 June Stadium, Cairo
Time: 21:00 (West African Time)
