South Africa goalkeeper Lowe named Man of the Match in U-20 AFCON final

South Africa U-20 goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was named the TotalEnergies Man of the Match after his heroic display helped secure a 1-0 win over Morocco in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 on Sunday.

The shot-stopper delivered another commanding performance between the posts, producing a string of crucial saves to deny the North Africans and ensure South Africa lifted their first-ever U-20 AFCON title.

Lowe, who has been one of the standout players of the tournament, was at his brilliant best again at Cairo International Stadium.

He made a series of sharp saves in both halves, including key interventions to stop efforts from Morocco’s Jones El Abdellaoui, Mouad Dahak, and Othmane Maamma.

His commanding presence, calm decision-making, and excellent distribution helped his side stay organised under sustained Moroccan pressure — especially in the final 15 minutes after Gomolemo Kekana's 70th-minute goal had given South Africa the lead.

The 18-year-old ends the tournament as the goalkeeper with the highest number of saves (30), playing a pivotal role in South Africa’s road to the title, which included three clean sheets in the knockout stages.

Lowe’s consistency throughout the competition was a key factor in South Africa's success.

From a nervy opening day defeat to hosts Egypt, he grew in confidence with each match, culminating in a title-winning performance in the final.

His award caps a remarkable campaign for the young goalkeeper, who has now firmly established himself as one of Africa’s brightest goalkeeping prospects.