Morocco’s national U20 football team was crowned world champion following their 2-0 victory against their Argentine counterpart on Sunday at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile.
From the outset of the fixture, the national team proved threatening in the 5th minute following a quick transition from Yasser Zabiri from the right, but the Argentine goalkeeper caught him at the edge of the penalty area. The Atlas Lions then earned a free kick, which Zabiri converted in the 12th minute.
After conceding the goal, the Argentine team sought to equalize by pressing the Moroccan defense, but coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s players resisted all of the Albiceleste’s offensive attempts.
The national team put up a solid defense and withstood the Argentine pressure, while relying on lightning-fast counterattacks. This strategy allowed Othmane Maamma to accelerate down the right and deliver a beautiful pass to Zabiri, who scored the second goal in the 29th minute.
Thanks to their cohesion and tactical discipline, the Atlas Cubs forced the Argentine squad into multiple errors, compelling Argentine coach Diego Placente to make two substitutions in the 33rd minute. The Moroccan squad smartly handled the first half, and managed to keep their 2-0 lead up until the referee’s whistle.
In the second half, the Argentine squad, in an attempt to bridge the gap, controlled the game, creating numerous occasions, with no threat to goalkeeper Ibrahim Gomis.
The national team kept their cohesion and harmony, forming a solid barrier against Argentine attacks
Mohamed Ouahbi made the first substitution in the 62nd minute, bringing on Saad El Haddad for Yassine Khelifi, who brought fresh legs for the national team.
The national team plucked up great courage in defense, standing solid against the relentless Argentine offensive, while launching quick transitions, thanks to the speed of the Zabiri, El Haddad and Maamaa trio.
The national team conserved their lead despite the successive assaults from the Albiceleste. Italian official Maurizio Mariani blew the final whistle, sealing the trophy for Morocco as U-20 world champions for the first time in history.
Thanks to this result, the U-20 national team crowned an exceptional participation in the World Cup, having beaten experienced teams such as Spain, Brazil and the US.
The ambition of national football is not limited to winning this historic title, but represents the culmination of a profound process of structural reform, based on modern training and a forward-looking vision, driven by the Mohammed VI Football Academy, which has now become a veritable incubator of talent and an essential resource for providing national teams with young players who are skilled and capable of competing at the highest continental and international levels.
