RIYADH, Morocco – In a historic and unprecedented achievement, the Moroccan U-20 national team won the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a valuable and deserved 2-0 victory over Argentina.
The final match between the two teams took place at dawn on Monday at the Julio Martinez Pradanos National Stadium in Chile.
Zabiri’s brace leads Morocco to glory
The star of the match was Yassir Zabiri, who scored both goals in the 12th and 29th minutes, leading the Atlas Lions to their first world title in this age group.
Not only in the history of Moroccan football, but as the first Arab team to ever win the title.
The first goal came from a direct free kick executed brilliantly by Zabiri. The ball landed in the right post, missing the Argentine goalkeeper, who was unable to stop it. The second goal followed a perfect cross from Othman Maama. Zabiri converted the ball directly with a volley that found the back of the net.
The heroes’ journey towards the coronation
Morocco qualified for the round of 16 after topping a strong group that included Brazil, Spain, and Mexico, with 6 points.
In the knockout rounds, they defeated South Korea 2-1, then defeated the United States 3-1 in the quarterfinals. They then achieved a dramatic victory over France on penalties in the semifinals.
Wahbi: “Our goal is bigger than the cup. We wanted to inspire the world.”
Following the match, technical director Mohamed Wahbi expressed his overwhelming happiness at this victory, noting that the title was the result of long-term work and a collective belief in the dream.
“These are indescribable moments of happiness,” Wehbe said in a television interview. “After all the difficulties we’ve been through, this achievement is a dedication to everyone who believed in us.”
He added, “Our goal wasn’t just to win the cup, but to inspire young people in Morocco and around the world to believe in their dreams. No matter how distant a dream may seem, with willpower and hard work, it can be achieved.”
He concluded by extending special tribute to the President of the Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, stressing that his support and confidence in the team and the technical staff were the cornerstone of this success.
A pivotal moment in the history of Arab football
With this achievement, the Moroccan youth team writes a new chapter in the history of Arab and African football. It also confirms once again that investment in youth and infrastructure pays off on the biggest stages.
This coronation represents a significant moral value for the new generation of players in the region and reinforces Morocco’s position as one of the most prominent emerging powers in world football.
