In a historic achievement for African football, Morocco secured the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup title with a decisive 2-0 win against Argentina in the final, held early Monday morning in Santiago, Chile.
The North African team’s landmark victory was powered by rising talent Yassir Zabiri, who netted two goals in the first half—one at the 12th minute and another at the 29th—silencing the Argentine supporters and sealing the championship.
Despite Argentina’s persistent attempts in the second half, they were unable to penetrate Morocco’s well-organized defense.
ESPN highlighted captain Rayan El-Mourabet’s leadership at the back, providing a solid defensive foundation, while goalkeeper Youssef Bakkali delivered an outstanding performance with several crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.
Morocco’s path to the title was challenging. Placed in a tough group with football giants Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, the Atlas Lions topped the group despite an opening loss to Mexico.
They went on to convincingly defeat Brazil and Spain to progress.
In the knockout stages, Morocco overcame South Korea in the round of 16, outplayed the United States in the quarter-finals, and triumphed over France on penalties in a tense semi-final. Their victory over Argentina in the final completed a remarkable tournament journey.
With this triumph, Morocco becomes only the second African nation to win the U-20 World Cup, following Ghana’s memorable 2009 victory over Brazil.
This milestone not only marks Morocco’s first FIFA trophy at any level but also highlights the country’s rise as an emerging force in international football.
