Morocco made history in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, reaching the final for the first time after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France.
The Atlas Cubs held their nerve after a 1–1 draw across 120 tense minutes. Emerging as the game’s unlikely hero, was substitute Abdelhakim El Mesbahi, coming on right before the penalty shootout and becoming the third goalkeeper for Morocco to make an appearance in the semi-final showdown.
Injuries forced Morocco to sub off starting keeper Yanis Benchaouch for Ibrahim Gomis in the second half. However, the introduction of Mesbahi moments before the shootout proved decisive after he saved Djylian N’Guessan’s effort to seal a place in Monday’s final against Argentina.
Morocco become just the third African nation to reach a U-20 World Cup final, following Nigeria and Ghana, with the latter remaining the only side from the continent to lift the trophy.
Inspired by their quarter-final win over the United States, Morocco started brightly. Othmane Maamma went close early on with a curling effort, before Ismael Baouf won a penalty on 32 minutes. Yassir Zabiri’s spot-kick struck the post, but the ball ricocheted off French keeper Lisandru Olmeta and over the line to give the North Africans the lead.
A cagey extra time followed, with French substitute Rabby Nzingoula sent off after a second yellow. The Atlas Cubs nearly doubled their advantage before the break, but Fouad Zahouani spurned a clear chance from close range. France responded well, equalizing through Lucas Michal, his fifth of the tournament, after a clever assist from Moustapha Dabo.
The young North Africans’ victory wrote a new chapter in African football history, sending Morocco into their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup final, where they will battle six-time champions Argentina for the title at the Chilean capital, Santiago.