October 20, (THEWILL) — Morocco’s Under-20 football team claimed the country’s first World Cup title by defeating Argentina 2–0 in the final held in Santiago, Chile. Yassir Zabiri, who plays for FC Famalicao in Portugal’s top division, scored twice in the first half to secure the victory.
The match saw Morocco establish dominance early through Zabiri’s penalty kick in the 12th minute. His second goal followed 17 minutes later after receiving a pass from Othman Maama, giving the African nation a commanding advantage at half-time that proved sufficient to claim the trophy.
This achievement marks a watershed moment for Moroccan football, making the nation the first African representative to win the Under-20 World Cup since Ghana’s success in 2009. The Atlas Cubs reached the final following a dramatic semi-final victory over France, which was decided by sudden-death penalties, in their inaugural appearance at this stage of the tournament.
Argentina arrived at the final seeking to extend its record of six previous Under-20 World Cup victories. The South American nation had navigated its path to Chile through a 1-0 semi-final victory over Colombia but could not overcome Morocco’s defensive solidity or clinical finishing.
Morocco’s return to international youth competition after a near two-decade absence resulted in an extraordinary achievement. The team’s progression through the knockout rounds, eliminating South Korea, the United States, and France before the final, demonstrates the advancement of youth development structures within the kingdom’s football system.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
