The Foggia midfielder, fresh world champion: “In the final we gave everything. Bologna noticed me and brought me to Italy. I chose Serie C to put myself to the test”
Naim Byar returned to Foggia after a week traveling around the world. With Morocco U20, the midfielder born in 2005 won the World Cup as a protagonist: always on the pitch, from the first group match to the final. The team beat Argentina in the final in Santiago, Chile. Then they flew to Rabat to celebrate. Waiting for the young champions was King Mohammed VI and Prince Moulay El Hassan: “We were received at the Royal Palace. The sovereigns congratulated the group and thanked us for our commitment. At the end of the official ceremony we got on the open bus to tour the capital. There were thousands of fans in the street, it was beautiful”. Coach Ouahbi’s team made history: it is the first African national team to win the competition. But there’s more. It is also the first time that Morocco has won the World Cup in a team sport, also considering youth competitions up to U20.
Byar, what was the turning point?
“The semi-final against France. They were favourites, we took the lead, then it was 1-1. We even missed a spot kick. When the time for penalties came, I got the last one.”
“Before starting, the coach asked us who felt like kicking. I immediately stepped forward. I kicked the sixth, goal. After me N’Guessan made a mistake. That’s where the party started.”
How did you prepare for the final against Argentina?
“In the locker room we told ourselves that we had to play as we had done throughout the tournament. It was a match like any other, we had nothing to lose. Having reached the last act of the World Cup was already an unexpected achievement. We gave everything.”
And you managed to win.
“Zabiri’s brace in the final gave us the cup. We have risen to the top of the world, crazy. For our country it is an incredible achievement. In Qatar, Regragui’s Morocco reached the semi-final. In 2030 we will host the World Cup together with Spain and Portugal. The Moroccan football movement has grown a lot”.
Has anyone from the senior national team written to compliment you?
“Ben Seghir of Bayer Leverkusen. He played in France like me, we are friends.”
Before wearing the Morocco shirt, you played for the French youth national teams.
“My parents are Moroccan, but I grew up in Reims. I also played in the European Championship with France U17 in 2022. I was waiting for the call from Morocco, when it arrived I accepted immediately.”
Did you always want to be a footballer as a child?
“In France, all the children play with football in the street. The cities have lots of concrete pitches. In Reims, every year, they organize the CAN of the neighborhoods: an amateur tournament in which the local representatives of African countries compete. I have always scored a lot of goals.”
His first experience in Italy was in the Bologna Primavera.
“The club noticed me after a few games with the French youth national teams. I arrived in 2023 and played two seasons with the Primavera: 34 appearances and 8 goals in the first year, 23 games and 3 goals in the second. Often, the Italian coach called me to the first team for training.”
Who surprised you the most in that group?
“Freuler, without a doubt. He plays in the same role as me: he has an extraordinary tactical intelligence. He is the real driving force of Bologna.”
The best memory in rossoblù?
“The bench with Napoli in the last championship. The coach called me up for the first two games of the season. At Maradona I followed the whole match from the sidelines, it was the first time I saw a stadium so full of fans.”
In the summer the Foggia opportunity arrived.
“I moved on loan because I wanted to test myself. Serie C is a competitive championship, I still have a lot to learn.”
He won the U20 World Cup with Morocco after playing just 13 minutes as a professional.
“When I started to get into the rhythm I left for Chile. Now I want to help my team.”
He has already won the World Cup. And now?
“I’m aiming to get to big football. Play in a top club, in Italy or abroad. Maybe even win the Champions League and the World Cup with the senior national team. The road is still long. After this historic triumph I understood that everything is possible, you just need to commit and keep dreaming.”
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