Morocco reached the U20 World Cup final for the first time in history after a tense 1-1 draw with France, winning 5-4 on penalties in the semi-final.
The Atlas Cubs took the lead in the 31st minute following a VAR review. Baouf was pulled inside the box, and head coach Mohamed Ouahbi used the green card to request a check.
The referee awarded a penalty. Zabiri’s strike hit the post, bounced off French goalkeeper Lisandru Olmeta, and went into the net, officially recorded as an own goal.
Morocco dominated much of the first half. Maamma came close twice, curling a shot just over the bar and later missing from close range after good build-up play from Yassine Gessime.
The Moroccan midfield was solid and well organised, cutting off France’s supply to their forwards. France managed just one shot on target, easily saved by goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch.
France equalised in the 58th minute after a defensive error allowed Lucas Michal to tap in. Benchaouch kept Morocco in the game with a crucial block moments later but was forced off due to injury, replaced by Gomis.
Morocco continued to threaten in the dying minutes of regular time, with Maamma curling a shot narrowly wide in the 90th minute.
Extra time was tense but low on clear chances for Morocco. France went close in the 102nd minute with a curling effort that went wide.
In the 107th minute, France were reduced to ten men after Nzingoula received a second yellow card for pulling Gessime’s shirt. Morocco still could not convert their numerical advantage, though Maamma came close with a curling effort in the 112th minute.
Also Read: 6 Times Flying Eagles Lost Their U-20 World Cup Opening Match – And How They Fared
France nearly scored twice in the 118th minute, but Morocco’s defence and goalkeeper held firm, and a VAR handball appeal was dismissed. Mohamed Ouahbi made a late goalkeeper substitution, bringing on Mesbah for Gomis in preparation for penalties.
The match ended 1-1, and Morocco held their nerve in the shootout to win.
They will now face either Argentina in the final in the early hours of Monday, October 20.
The Argentines, six-time champions of the U-20 World Cup pipped Colombia 1-0 in the other semi-finals.
Morocco would be hoping to become the second African country after Ghana in 2009 to win the U-20 World Cup title.
3 Comments
Hope the clueless NFF can borrow one or two things from this Moroccan team. This is a country with a vision. When you wait till the last minute to plan, you can’t win crap.SMH
Is it not time for NFF and the entire boards resigned? Arabs are becoming continental superpowers.
Why always Morocco, even with their Arab money?
World cup Playoff host (Africa): Morocco
WAFCON 2026 host (automatic qualifiers) after reaching 2 finals yet lost both matches (a third one is not impossible) — Morocco
The only African nation that attracted 2023 Women’s world cup winning coach (Jorge Vilda) and two time UEFA women’s champions league winner (Reynald Pedros) and didn’t owe their salaries — Morocco
2030 FIFA world cup co-host after reaching the semi finals in Qatar 2022 — Morocco
Automatic qualifiers and host of under 17 wwc every year till 2029 — Morocco
FIFA World ranking number 11 — Morocco
Under 20 world cup finalists — Morocco
The only team to win all 10 FIFA world cup 2026 qualifiers even on potato pitches — Morocco.
If Waldrum had not given us plumptre and co, NFF board that hasn’t convinced any new talent to buy into the super Eagles would have left us with local league deadweights as falcons players and even falcons would have perished.
What has NFF achieved? No new stadia? No outstanding bonuses cleared? No new talent pool supply chain in both men and women’s football except blatant nepotism? No ongoing project to mark as distinct one or game changing?
Na so we go dey dey? And they are comfortable watching Morocco and North Africa take all the accolades?
NFF under Gusau should not win a second term next year. If we are still sentimental with South – North rule and want to give the North a second term, fine but not Gusau.
We are nothing to write home about in even the lowest rung of football teams. Haba, I knew it was age falsification then that brought laurels but even now, winners still emerge in those competitions. Why not us still?
You also forgot to add that Morocco won bronze at the last Olympics.
I have said a lot about Morocco 2 to 3 years ago that I have gotten tired of saying more about them.
All I can do now is just to sit down and enjoy and celebrate their successes year after year.
They have successfully harnessed their diasporans and integrated them perfectly into their national team setups and talent pools….together with their well-trained, well-educated and well-exposed pool of coaches who are leading teams both in Morocco and other parts of the continent. The current coach of Niger is Moroccan and they nearly qualified for the playoffs…….YES NIGER REPUBLIC.
Nigerian football authorities, on the other hand, are still working 25hrs in a day to prove that “we have many talents in our local league”, while local coaches and ex-internationals are still feeling entitled to jobs when Benin Republic and Niger Republic wouldn’t even look at their CVs twice.
I will them all, all the best.