With all four teams confirmed for the World Cup, the race for AFCON U20 glory intensifies as the semi-finals approach.
The U20 Africa Cup of Nations resumes on Thursday night, featuring Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and host nation Egypt, all eager to dethrone Senegal, the reigning champions of Africa.
Following their quarter-final victories, the Flying Eagles, Amajita, Junior Atlas Lions, and the Young Pharaohs have secured their places in the upcoming global tournament in Chile.
Except for South Africa, all teams involved have previously lifted the continental trophy, with Nigeria leading the way as the most successful nation in the competition’s history, claiming seven titles, the most recent being in 2015.
Nigeria vs South Africa
Nigeria started their campaign with a slender 1-0 win over pre-tournament favourites Tunisia, thanks to Auwal Ibrahim’s strike in the first half.
They then played out a goalless draw against Morocco before facing a late scare from Kenya, managing to secure a 2-2 draw thanks to Daniel Bameyi’s last-minute equaliser.
In the quarter-finals, the Flying Eagles displayed resilience, defeating defending champions Senegal in a tense penalty shootout after a scoreless 120 minutes.
Conversely, South Africa, participating in their ninth U20 AFCON, began with a narrow loss to the hosts Egypt, where Mohamed El Hadad netted the only goal in the 62nd minute.
Amajita responded well, scoring vital victories against Tanzania and Sierra Leone, followed by a 1-1 stalemate with Zambia in their final group match.
They progressed to the semi-finals and secured a spot in the U20 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over DR Congo, courtesy of Thabang Mahlangu’s extra-time goal.
Ray Mdaka’s team faces a formidable challenge from Nigeria, yet the historical rivalry suggests a closely matched contest. In their three past U20 AFCON encounters, the teams have recorded one win each and a penalty shootout victory, underscoring the competitiveness of their relationship.
Unlike South Africa, who are making their fifth appearance in this biennial competition, Nigeria is featuring in their ninth successive semi-final at the tournaments they’ve qualified for.
What has been said:
“We are determined to bring the trophy home. Our focus is solely on winning it now that we’ve qualified for the World Cup,” said Nigeria coach Aliyu Zubairu.
“I watched South Africa play against DR Congo, so we have a solid understanding of their tactics. They’re a capable team, but we aim to exploit their weaknesses while neutralising their strengths.”
Venue: Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
Time: 18:00 (West African Time)
Morocco vs Egypt
Host nation Egypt opened their tournament with a close 1-0 victory over South Africa but suffered a disheartening 4-1 loss to Sierra Leone, where Momoh Kamara scored a hat-trick.
Following this, Egypt could only manage a goalless draw against Zambia, before narrowly defeating Tanzania 1-0 in their final Group A match to qualify for the quarter-finals.
In the quarter-finals, Egypt’s sub goalkeeper Ahmed Menshawy became the hero, leading the team past Ghana in a tense penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw during extra time.
Morocco also started strong, winning 3-2 against Kenya, followed by a goalless draw with Nigeria, and finishing their group stage with a commanding 3-1 victory over Tunisia.
In the quarter-finals, the Young Atlas Lions edged past Sierra Leone with a fortuitous own goal from Amara Keita, securing their passage to the semi-finals.
This semi-final sets up a North African battle, pitting two regional giants against each other in a match filled with intensity and significance.
Both teams have shown remarkable resilience and tactical acumen to reach this pivotal stage in the tournament, combining disciplined defence with attacking flair.
Egypt remains unbeaten in their last five encounters with Morocco in finals. Over their previous six meetings in the tournament, they’ve produced a remarkable tally of 17 goals, averaging an exciting 2.83 goals per match.
What has been said:
“This match feels like an Arab final. Morocco is a formidable and well-structured team. They’ve been impressive at every level, so we need to step up to the plate,” stated Egypt coach Osama Nabih.
“We have great respect for the Egyptian national team – they’re determined, hardy, and feature many quality players. However, we are here to win this championship. We accomplished our primary goal of qualifying for the World Cup, and now we aim to complete the task.”
“Our approach is straightforward: we won’t let ourselves be distracted by referees, the pitch conditions, or the crowd. We focus on our game plan, maintain our discipline, and seize our opportunities,” added Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
Venue: 30 June Stadium, Cairo
Time: 21:00 (West African Time)
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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