Morocco stunned six-time U-20 champions Argentina 2-0 on Sunday at the Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium in Santiago, Chile, to lift their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title.
The Atlas Lions Cubs were inspired by the brilliant Yassir Zabiri, who netted both goals in a man-of-the-match performance.
The North Africans’ maiden victory comes 16 years after Ghana’s historic triumph at the U-20 tournament.
Morocco also dominated the tournament’s awards lists as Othmane Maamma won the adidas Golden Ball as Player of the Tournament, emulating the likes of Diego Maradona, Robert Prosinecki, Lionel Messi Sergio Aguero and Paul Pogba in clinching the coveted individual prize.
Also, hero of the final, Zabiri, received the adidas Silver Ball as the competition’s second-best player, while Argentina’s Milton Delgado was awarded the Bronze Ball.
Going into the final, Argentina were the overwhelming favourite. The Albiceleste had won all six of their matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding only two, while the Atlas Cubs had lost to Mexico and only squeezed past France on penalties.
The Atlas Lions Cub is also the first team in 42 years to beat Argentina in a FIFA U-20 World Cup final. Since Jorginho, Dunga and Bebeto-led Brazil defeated their arch-rivals in the Mexico 1983 final, Argentina had conquered Brazil, Uruguay, Ghana, Nigeria and Czech Republic to lift the trophy.
However, under the guidance of coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the young Moroccans were not to be beaten this time. They combined defensive solidity with fearless attacking football.
Only months after finishing runners-up at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco have now conquered the world, a testament of the remarkable impact of the country’s youth development program under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
With their maiden triumph, The Atlas Lion Cubs have not just written their names in gold but also set a benchmark for the next generation of footballers across Africa and the rest of the world.
