Sixteen years after Ghana’s historic triumph, Morocco have joined the elite circle of FIFA U-20 World Cup winners.
The Atlas Lion Cubs stunned Argentina 2-0 on Sunday at the Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium in Santiago, Chile, to lift their first-ever global title.
Inspired by a dazzling Yassir Zabiri, who netted both goals in a man-of-the-match performance, Morocco delivered a flawless display that left the six-time champions with no answers.
Under the guidance of coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the young Moroccans combined defensive solidity with fearless attacking football. Zabiri, the tournament’s revelation, struck twice to seal a famous victory and finished as the Golden Boot winner with five goals.
Only months after finishing runners-up at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco have now conquered the world, confirming the remarkable progress of the country’s youth development program under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The individual accolades further underline Morocco’s impressive form.
Othmane Maamane was named Player of the Tournament, claiming the Golden Ball, while final hero Yassir Zabiri took home the Silver Ball as the competition’s second-best player.
The Atlas Lion Cubs have written their names in gold, inspiring a new generation across Africa and beyond