Just hours after lifting their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title, South Africa added more silverware to their historic campaign — this time on an individual level.
Tylon Smith, the 19-year-old midfield maestro, was officially named Best Player of the Tournament, a fitting reward for his commanding performances that anchored South Africa’s run to glory in Cairo.
Smith’s intelligent play, composed passing, and match-winning goal in the semi-final against Nigeria were key to Amajita’s success, culminating in a 1–0 victory over Morocco in Sunday’s final.
“Smith controlled the rhythm of every match and played with a maturity beyond his years,” tournament analysts noted. “He was the heartbeat of Amajita.”
Lowe shines between the sticks
It was a double delight for South Africa as Fletcher Lowe, the team’s imposing shot-stopper, claimed the Best Goalkeeper award. With four clean sheets and 24 saves across the tournament, Lowe proved to be a wall in goal. His standout performance came in the final, where he made a series of clutch saves to frustrate Morocco and secure the narrow win.
Kamara and Morocco also honoured
Momoh Kamara of Sierra Leone took home the Top Scorer award after netting four goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Egypt. The 20-year-old emerged as one of the tournament’s brightest attacking talents and has surely attracted the eyes of top scouts across the continent.
Despite their heartbreak in the final, Morocco was recognized with the Fair Play Award for exemplary sportsmanship and discipline throughout the competition.
Complete list of U-20 AFCON 2025 Award winners:
- Best Player: Tylon Smith (South Africa)
- Top Scorer: Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone) – 4 goals
- Best Goalkeeper: Fletcher Lowe (South Africa)
- Fair Play Award: Morocco
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