In a moment of historic triumph, Morocco’s U-20 national team have been crowned world champions after defeating Argentina 2–0 in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Chile. The victory marks Morocco’s first-ever FIFA title, a groundbreaking achievement for the North African nation and a proud milestone in African football history.
The young Atlas Lions delivered a composed and disciplined performance to outclass six-time champions Argentina in front of a packed stadium in Santiago. The breakthrough came early in the 12th minute when Zabiri curled a powerful free-kick from the edge of the penalty box that struck the post before ricocheting into the net, giving Morocco a deserved lead.
Argentina struggled to find rhythm against Morocco’s compact and organized defense, and the North Africans doubled their advantage in the 28th minute. A lightning-fast counterattack saw Othmane Maamma, who was later named Player of the Tournament, deliver a pinpoint cross to Zabiri, who calmly slotted home his second goal of the night.
Despite Argentina’s efforts to mount a comeback in the second half, Morocco maintained control of the game, displaying tactical maturity and resilience beyond their years. Goalkeeper Amine Benrhozil made several crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet and secure a famous victory.
At the final whistle, celebrations erupted across the stadium and back home in Morocco, where fans poured into the streets to mark the country’s historic achievement. The triumph not only crowns Morocco as the U-20 world champions but also cements their status as one of Africa’s fastest-rising football powers.
With the win, Morocco become the first North African nation to lift the FIFA U-20 World Cup, signaling a new era of promise for Moroccan football following the senior team’s impressive run to the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The victory also underscores the success of Morocco’s long-term investment in youth development through the Mohammed VI Football Academy — a model now widely regarded as a blueprint for nurturing world-class talent across the continent.
