Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Bromley deal for Sierra Leone native Nathan Paul Lavaly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Bromley deal for Sierra Leone native Nathan Paul Lavaly

Bromley Football Club has confirmed new deal for full-back Nathan Paul-Lavaly and several others.

Lavaly, a native from Sierra Leone made six senior appearances last season following his debut in their first home EFL game against AFC Wimbledon.

The Academy graduate also assisted in a recent match against Barrow and received a Special Achievement Award at our 2024/25 Awards Evening.

Paul-Lavaly played the full 90 minutes in our first home EFL game against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. He has also made two more senior appearances against Chelsea U21s and Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy.

He was sent on loan to joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Carshalton Athletic on a one-month loan.

Egypt's Al Ahly close in on record 45th Premier League title
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s Al Ahly close in on record 45th Premier League title

Africa — Al-Ahly are closig in on another title with just a win away from winning a record 45th Egyptian Premier League title after a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against NBE Club.

This win in the seventh round keeps the championship race exciting and sets up an important final match.

Rivals Pyramids FC also stay in the title hunt with a strong 2-0 win over Petrojet. Meanwhile, Ceramica Cleopatra had a convincing 4-0 victory over Al-Masry, ensuring the title remains in contention until the end.

Al-Ahly leads the table with 55 points and will play Pharco FC on Wednesday, May 28, in a winner-takes-all match for the championship.

A win will give Al-Ahly 58 points, sealing the title regardless of the result between Pyramids FC and Ceramica Cleopatra. 

In their recent match, Al-Ahly beat NBE Club 2-1 at Cairo International Stadium. Midfielder Emam Ashour scored first for Al-Ahly in the 21st minute with a powerful shot from outside the box. NBE Club’s Yao Anwar equalized in stoppage time at the end of the first half, surprising the home fans.

Just when it looked like they would share the points, Wessam Abou Ali scored a last-minute goal for Al-Ahly, igniting celebrations among their supporters.

This win puts Al-Ahly at 55 points, keeping them two points ahead of Pyramids, fourteen points ahead of Zamalek while NBE Club stays fourth with 37 points.

South Africa's U20 defender Tylon Smith named Player of Tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa’s U20 defender Tylon Smith named Player of Tournament

South Africa defender Tylon Smith has been named Player of the Tournament at the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The strong centre-back played regularly for the Amajitas, delivering great performances in every match to help his team advance through the tournament.

In the semi-finals, he scored an equaliser against Nigeria, which allowed South Africa to reach the final and compete for the championship.

In the final match against Morocco, held at Cairo International Stadium, Smith played a key role in defense, helping his team shut out the North African side.

In the final, both teams delivered an exciting match but ended the first half goalless. Gomolemo Kekana scored the only goal in the 70th minute, assisted by Fletcher Smythe-Lowe. Despite Morocco’s efforts in the last 20 minutes, they couldn’t overcome South Africa’s solid defense.

In the end, Gomolemo Kekana’s goal secured the win for South Africa, making the Amajitas Champions of the 2025 U20 AFCON in Egypt.

The strong centre-back consistently played for the Amajitas, delivering excellent performances in every match to help his team progress through the tournament.
The strong centre-back consistently played for the Amajitas, delivering excellent performances in every match to help his team progress through the tournament.
South Africa lift U-20 AFCON champions for the first time in their history
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa lift U-20 AFCON title for the first time in their history

South Africa claimed their first TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final held at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo on Sunday night.

The decisive moment came from Gomolemo Kekana, who scored a stunning goal in the second half. His powerful right-footed shot from outside the box bent into the top corner in the 70th minute, breaking the deadlock in a tense match characterised by tactical discipline and strong defensive play. The goal was awarded after a VAR review.

This win marked a historic achievement for South Africa, as they had never reached a U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco. This time, they turned the tables, avenging that earlier defeat to lift the trophy and become the twelfth different nation to win the title.

Both teams entered the final unbeaten, with impressive defensive records. Morocco appeared more fluid in the first half, creating better chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi. However, South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was in excellent form, keeping the game scoreless.

South Africa, which improved steadily after losing their opening match to Egypt, demonstrated resilience and patience. Although Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had opportunities, neither side could score before halftime.

The second half began with Morocco pressing forward, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close to scoring. However, the North Africans could not convert, and South Africa’s high pressure eventually paid off. Following Kekana’s spectacular goal, South Africa maintained their composure under pressure. Despite Morocco’s attempts to equalise, South Africa’s defence, led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba, held strong.

This victory signifies South Africa’s first-ever youth continental triumph and adds them to a growing list of recent debut winners, following Senegal’s success in 2023. It also ended their troubling history against North African teams, breaking a streak of five previous defeats, all by a single goal margin.

Fletcher Lowe finished the tournament with a standout 24 saves, highlighting South Africa’s defensive strength. Kekana’s crucial goal marked their ninth of the tournament, helping them overcome DR Congo, Nigeria, and Morocco in the knockout rounds.

For Morocco, the defeat in the final represented a missed chance for a second title, ending their 14-match unbeaten run in the U-20 AFCON. Despite their strong performances, they are still in search of another crown.

South Africa vs Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa and Morocco set for intriguing U20 AFCON final

South Africa vs Morocco are set to battle in the highly anticipated CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo — a repeat of their iconic 1997 encounter.

Back then, Morocco U20 edged past South Africa 1-0 to clinch the title. Now, history is on the line once again. Morocco eyes its second championship, while South Africa U20 is chasing its first-ever continental crown.

This marks South Africa’s fifth appearance in a CAF tournament final, yet they’ve never beaten a North African team in such high-stakes matches — each loss by a single goal. Morocco U20, meanwhile, boasts a perfect record against Southern African teams in this tournament, defeating both Lesotho and Angola during the group stage.

Road to the CAF U-20 AFCON Final: South Africa vs Morocco

Both teams took similar routes to reach the final:

  • South Africa overcame DR Congo and Nigeria

  • Morocco dispatched Sierra Leone and hosts Egypt

This is the fifth time the U-20 AFCON is being held in North Africa — with history favoring North African teams when playing on home turf.

South Africa started slowly but has grown stronger, scoring eight goals in four wins. Goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe leads the tournament with 24 crucial saves.

Morocco enters the final unbeaten in 14 matches, scoring eight goals shared among top talents like Jones El Abdellaoui and Yassir Zabiri.

🥉 Third Place Play Off: Nigeria vs Egypt

Before the final, Nigeria and Egypt will meet in the third-place play-off at the same venue on Sunday at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT). This will be their sixth clash in U-20 AFCON history.

Nigeria holds the edge, with three wins — including victories in 2005 (final), 2009, and 2023 group stages. Egypt’s lone win came in 2013’s semi-final. Their 2007 encounter ended in a draw.

Notably, Nigeria has performed well against host nations, boasting six wins and only two losses. Their most dominant win was a 4-0 demolition of Tunisia in the 2023 third-place match.