فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
On a historic night in the city of Fes, the streets of Morocco’s scientific capital were filled with celebrations after the Moroccan U20 national team qualified for the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, currently held in Chile. The dramatic victory came after a tense semifinal match against France on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, which was decided by penalty kicks. French player Délian Ngissant missed the sixth penalty kick, securing “The Atlas Lions” a place in the final—an unprecedented achievement in Moroccan football history.
Match Details
The match took place at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso, Chile, before a large audience and with extensive follow-up by Moroccan fans worldwide. Head coach Mohamed Wahbi fielded a strong lineup including goalkeeper Yanis Benchaaouch and players Othman Maâma, Yassir Zbiri, and Fouad Zahwani. Morocco took the lead in the 32nd minute with a penalty successfully converted by Yassir Zbiri. France equalized at the 65th minute through a goal by Simon Bouabri, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw after regular and extra time.
The match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Moroccan goalkeeper Yanis Benchaaouch saved the sixth attempt by French player Délian Ngissant, sending Morocco to the final amid widespread jubilation. This victory crowns a remarkable campaign in which Morocco eliminated strong teams such as Spain (2-0), Brazil (2-1), South Korea (2-1), and the United States (3-1).
Celebrations in Fes
Fes transformed into a popular festival following the qualification announcement. Thousands of citizens took to the streets waving Moroccan flags and chanting players’ names and the slogan “Morocco, Pride Among Nations.” City squares such as Place Florence and Hassan II Street hosted lively celebrations filled with national anthems and chants supporting the team. Fans expressed their pride in this new generation of players, who have elevated Morocco’s name on the global stage, inspired by the legacy of the senior national team that reached the 2022 World Cup semifinals in Qatar.
One fan tweeted on platform X: “Congratulations to the Atlas Cubs! Generation Z is making history and proving that Morocco is an emerging football power!” Another commented: “The joy in Fes is indescribable, thank God for this great achievement!”
Historical Context and Significance
This is the second time the Moroccan U20 team has reached the World Cup semifinals since 2005 in the Netherlands, where they finished fourth after losses to Nigeria (0-3) and Brazil (1-2). However, reaching the final represents a historic achievement that reflects significant progress in Moroccan football, attributed to Royal Moroccan Football Federation investments in academies and youth talent development. The feat echoes the senior team’s success in Qatar 2022 as the first Arab and African team to reach the semifinals.
The match against France was considered a revenge clash, as the French team had eliminated Morocco’s senior team in the 2022 World Cup semifinals. This victory restored pride to Moroccan fans, seeing it as sports redemption. The final also offers Morocco a golden opportunity for the world title, especially with standout players like Othman Maâma (Watford FC) and Yassir Zbiri (Famalicão FC).
Official and Popular Reactions
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation congratulated the team in an official statement praising their “high fighting spirit and exceptional technical performance,” affirming full support for the players in the final. Coach Mohamed Wahbi expressed pride saying, “These young lions have shown Morocco’s ability to compete with the world’s best. We entered the match with confidence and tactical precision, and we will continue working to achieve the dream in the final.”
On platform X, the hashtags #U20WC and #Morocco_France trended across Morocco and the Arab region, with thousands of posts celebrating the achievement. One tweet declared: “Yanis Benchaaouch, the lion of the goal! His save of Ngissant’s penalty was the key to history!” Another wrote: “Morocco is rewriting history, from Qatar 2022 to Chile 2025!”
Upcoming Challenges
Morocco will face the winner of the other semifinal between Colombia and Argentina, played in the early hours of Thursday, October 16, 2025. The final is scheduled for early Monday, October 20, with the third-place match on Saturday evening. Morocco aims to complete its historic run by winning the championship, buoyed by strong public support and high confidence in the players.
Morocco U20 World Cup 2025 Journey Summary
| Stage | Opponent | Result | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Spain | Win 2-0 | Oct 1, 2025 | Standout: Yassir Zbiri, Fouad Zahwani |
| Group stage | Brazil | Win 2-1 | Oct 2, 2025 | Acrobatic goal by Othman Maâma |
| Group stage | Mexico | Loss 0-1 | Oct 4, 2025 | Qualified as group leader |
| Round of 16 | South Korea | Win 2-1 | Oct 9, 2025 | Own goal & Zbiri score |
| Quarterfinal | United States | Win 3-1 | Oct 12, 2025 | Goals by Zahwani, Winder (own goal), Jassim |
| Semifinal | France | Win (Penalties) | Oct 15, 2025 | Ngissant missed 6th penalty |
Summary
Morocco’s qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup final marks a historic milestone, enhancing Morocco’s profile as a rising football power. The celebrations in Fes reflect broad public support for this talented generation. As the final approaches, Moroccans and Arabs alike turn their eyes to Chile, hoping the Atlas Cubs will claim the world title and fulfill a long-awaited dream.
