South Africa won their maiden CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in Sunday night’s final at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.

Gomolemo Kekana’s stunning second-half strike proved decisive, as the, Southern Africans claimed the trophy and rewrote history by overcoming a North African opponent in the tournament for the first time.

The only goal of the final came in the 70th minute when Kekana unleashed a powerful right-footed effort from outside the box, bending the ball into the top corner.

The goal, awarded after a VAR review, broke the deadlock in a tense contest dominated by tactical discipline and defensive organisation.

Kekana’s goal capped a superb tournament for South Africa, who had never reached a U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco.

This time, they flipped the script, avenging that defeat to lift the trophy and become the 12th different nation to win the title.

Both sides entered the final unbeaten, boasting some of the tournament’s best defensive records.

Morocco, the more fluid side in the first half, created better chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was once again in inspired form.

South Africa, who had grown into the competition after losing their opener to Egypt, showed resilience and patience.

Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had half chances, but neither side managed to find the net before the break.

The second half opened up with Morocco pushing forward, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close.

However, the North Africans were wasteful in front of goal, and South Africa’s high pressing eventually paid dividends.

After Kekana’s wonder goal, South Africa soaked up pressure with commendable discipline.

Morocco threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but South Africa’s backline — led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba — held firm.

South Africa’s victory marks their first-ever youth continental triumph and adds them to a growing list of recent debut winners, following Senegal’s 2023 success.

It also broke their jinx against North African opposition, ending a run of five previous defeats — all by a single goal margin.

Fletcher Lowe ended the tournament with the most saves (24), underlining South Africa’s defensive resolve.

Kekana’s goal was only their ninth of the campaign, but every strike proved crucial as they edged past DR Congo, Nigeria and now Morocco in the knockout rounds.

For Morocco, the defeat marks a missed opportunity to win a second title. They came into the final unbeaten in 14 U-20 AFCON matches in open play.

But Sunday’s loss — their first defeat of the tournament — was a bitter blow.

Despite impressive performances throughout the tournament, their wait for a second crown continues.(NAN)

From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Isoko South Local Government Area has passed a resounding vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori and Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, citing their exemplary and visionary leadership.

The decision came over the weekend during the party’s maiden meeting following a wave of mass defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in Isoko South. The event, held at the country home of Senator Joel-Onowakpo, witnessed an unprecedented gathering of political heavyweights and stakeholders from the eleven wards within the local government area.Prominent figures at the meeting included Chief Lucky Esigie, APC Isoko Nation Leader; Rt. Hon. Johnson Erijo, Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor; Odio Askia Ogeh, former DESOPADEC Managing Director; APC LGA Chairman, Comrade Egbogbo Vincent; Rt. Hon. Onwo Ferguson, Hon. Bino Obowomano, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh, and several others.In his keynote address, Senator Joel-Onowakpo emphasized party unity and clarified the leadership structure of the APC in Delta State.He stated that the APC recognizes Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as its leader in the state, aligning with the directives of the Presidency and the national leadership of the party.“The Delta State Governorship is not vacant,” Senator Joel-Onowakpo declared. “We have an administration that is focused on delivering the dividends of democracy, and we must give it the necessary support to complete its mandate.”The Senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Content, further called for a unified front within the party, discouraging any form of division or discrimination between new and old members. He also tasked party organs, particularly ward chairmen, with ensuring a smooth registration process for new entrants.The highlight of the meeting was the formal motion of a vote of confidence, moved by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, Member representing Isoko South Constituency II, and seconded by Dr. Sylvester Onoyona, APC’s 2023 House of Representatives candidate. The motion received unanimous approval through a thunderous voice vote, signaling widespread support for the trio.Attendees described President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, and Senator Joel-Onowakpo as “leaders who have distinguished themselves at their various levels of assignment.”The meeting also served as a platform to strategize for the 2027 general elections, with calls for cohesion, grassroots mobilization, and internal discipline within the party.Other notable leaders present included Hon. Barr. Lucky Okperi, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, Hon. Austine Igbine, Hon. Benjamin Ogbalor, High Chief Lawrence Eduje, Queen Betty Efekodha, Barr. Powell Ojogho, and Rear Admiral John Kpokpogri (Rtd), among many others.The gathering reaffirmed the APC’s growing strength in Delta State and its preparedness to challenge for dominance in future elections.

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

The Enugu State Government has reiterated its commitment to hosting a seamless and memorable Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) scheduled for August.The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr.

Kingsley Udeh made this known during the first plenary session with the various sub committees tasked with organizing the high-profile legal gathering in Enugu. Udeh charged the committee members to work diligently and introduce innovative ideas that will ensure the 2025 AGC is not only well-organized but also sets a new benchmark for future conferences.He emphasized Enugu’s longstanding reputation as a pace-setter among Nigerian states in hosting major national events.Reflecting on past achievements, the Attorney-General recalled that the widely-adopted breakout session format was first introduced during Enugu’s hosting of the NBA AGC in 2003—a practice that has since become a standard feature of the conference.He also conveyed Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s enthusiasm about welcoming legal practitioners and judicial officers from across the country, describing the upcoming event as an opportunity to etch Enugu’s name in history once again. Udeh, who is the chairman of the planning committee and sub committees, confirmed that he will personally oversee the planning process to ensure the success of the event.With the right level of dedication and teamwork, we are confident that this event will set a new standard for professional gatherings in our state, he concluded.On his part, Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Legal Matters, Osinachi Nnajieze reaffirmed his commitment to ensure that the conference turns out to be a huge success.The Special Adviser and also Secretary of the Planning Committee, Nnajieze emphasized the importance of collaboration and dedication among members of the committee.He assured that all hands would be on deck to meet the expectations of the Attorney-General, who inaugurated the committee, said that we cannot afford to fail.“This conference has the potential to unlock significant investment opportunities for Enugu State and position us as a hub for legal and economic discourse,” Nnajieze declaredHe revealed that the committee would be strategically divided into two key sub-committees: the Secretariat and the Finance & Budget, and would work together to ensure seamless planning and execution.Nnajieze also stressed the need for every committee member to demonstrate commitment and accountability in fulfilling their assigned duties.