Zabiri makes the favorites cheer
©IMAGO
Morocco caused a big surprise and were crowned U20 world champions for the first time. For the North Africans, it is the first triumph at a major tournament organized by the world association FIFA. In the final in Santiago de Chile on Sunday evening (local time), the team won 2-0 (2-0) against the favored Argentines. The success was celebrated with motorcades in Morocco’s major cities in the middle of the night.
The final hero in front of the 43,253 spectators at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos was striker Yassir Zabiri, who scored both goals. In the 12th minute he curled a free kick into the top corner. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi had previously made use of the blue card, which was tested by FIFA at the tournament. This means that the use of the video referee can be requested twice per game.
Ouahbi’s appeal was successful; referee Maurizio Mariani overlooked a clear foul on Zabiri on the edge of the penalty area. The attacker stepped up and made a remarkable conversion. In the 29th minute, Zabiri increased the score to 2-0 after a sprint, a dribble and a cross from Othmane Maamma. Although Argentina visually dominated the game with 71 percent of ball possession, they were unable to create any clear chances. As was the case throughout the tournament, Morocco defended in an organized manner.
“We had 21 players, everyone did their part,” said coach Ouahbi, who was in tears after the final whistle. The Belgian, who worked in the youth ranks at RSC Anderlecht for years, has been in office since March 2022. “I don’t consider myself the best coach, I’m just the coach of the best team and have the best staff. Our goal from the start was to win the title and return home with the trophy. And that’s exactly what we did.”
Only very few people thought Morocco had a chance in the “group of death”. But the North Africans became the favorites. With victories against Spain (2:0) and Brazil (2:1), Morocco moved into the final round first, where the highly rated USA (3:1) and France (5:4 n. E.) were eliminated before Argentina.
Morocco’s Maamma receives Golden Ball at U20 World Cup
With the brace in the final, Zabiri also joined Néiser Villarreal (Colombia), Lucas Michal (France) and Benja Cremaschi (USA), who all scored five times, as the top scorers. Since the latter had the most assists with two, Cremaschi was awarded the Golden Shoe. The Golden Ball for the best player went to Maamma, also known as “Morocco’s Cristiano Ronaldo”. Teammate Zabiri received the silver award, the bronze ball went to Argentina’s Milton Delgado. The Albiceleste’s ranks also include the tournament’s best goalkeeper: Santino Barbi kept a clean sheet in four games.
Morocco is only the second nation from Africa to win the U20 World Cup title, after Ghana in 2009. It is the kingdom’s next coup after fourth place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. Morocco will be one of the three main hosts of the World Cup in 2030, along with Spain and Portugal, and has a great footballing future ahead of it.