فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Brussels, October 30, 2025 – The Consulate General of Morocco in Brussels held a ceremony on Thursday to honor the Moroccan U20 international players Ali Maamar and Anas Tajaouart, who were crowned world champions in Chile, alongside their coach Mohamed Ouahbi. The event was attended by young members of the Anderlecht club, where the two players are based, as well as numerous members of the Moroccan community in Belgium, in an atmosphere reflecting national pride in this historic achievement.
Symbolic Tribute to an Exceptional Journey
The ceremony, held at the Consulate General’s headquarters in the Belgian capital, highlighted the remarkable journey of Ali Maamar (right-back) and Anas Tajaouart (midfielder), who symbolize the success and perseverance of Moroccan youth abroad. This tribute follows the celebration organized by Anderlecht on October 28 during a Belgian Cup match, reflecting widespread community support for the two players.
In his opening remarks, Consul General Hassan Touri expressed his delight at honoring the world champions who “proudly carried Morocco’s colors” during the U20 World Cup in Chile, emphasizing that their sporting success is “a source of inspiration and pride” for all Moroccans who united in celebrating the national team’s rise to the global summit. He noted that this victory enhances Moroccan football’s standing on the world stage and underscores the role of the Moroccan diaspora in Belgium in nurturing young talent.
Inspiring Messages from Coach and Players
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who led the Moroccan U20 team to the title, delivered an inspiring message to the attending youth, urging them to “believe in their dreams, work hard, and maintain self-confidence.” He emphasized that “football is a school of passion, hard work, and perseverance, lessons that apply to education and life.” Ouahbi, a former coach at Anderlecht’s academy, praised the team’s collective spirit and discipline during the tournament.
In turn, the world champions Ali Maamar and Anas Tajaouart expressed their pride and gratitude for the warm welcome at the Consulate General, stating that being honored was a great privilege after contributing to this historic football milestone. They said, “Hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance are the keys to success. Every day counts, whether in football or studies.” They added that achieving their childhood dream of winning a world title was the result of faith and discipline.
Historic Achievement for Moroccan Football
Morocco made history by winning the U20 World Cup in Chile, held from September 27 to October 19, 2025, becoming the second African team to claim the title after Ghana in 2009. The Moroccan team distinguished itself with cohesive teamwork, solid defense, and a fighting spirit, topping its group with victories over Spain (2-1) and Brazil (3-0), then defeating the United States (4-1) and France (2-1) before triumphing over Argentina (2-0) in the final, thanks to two goals by Yasser Zoubiri. Maamar played as a starter in defense, while Tajaouart added creativity as a substitute midfielder.
Significance of the Tribute
The ceremony underscores the pivotal role of the Moroccan community in Belgium, numbering around 500,000, in supporting young talent and fostering national pride. It also reflects Morocco’s commitment to celebrating its diaspora, particularly in the context of sporting successes that enhance the Kingdom’s global image. The event follows Anderlecht’s tribute during the Belgian Cup match against Ninove on October 28, where the players received symbolic gifts amid enthusiastic crowd applause.
Future Prospects
This achievement is expected to propel the players toward the senior Moroccan national team, with growing interest from European clubs in their talents. The victory provides a significant boost to Moroccan football ahead of hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup. Community support continues through emotional interactions on social media, with the Moroccan diaspora sharing videos celebrating the players.
