Morocco’s Under-20 football team has made history by reaching the FIFA U-20 World Cup final for the first time, defeating France in a penalty shootout. The Atlas Cubs took an early lead with Yasser Zabbiri scoring a 32nd-minute penalty, but France’s Michel equalized in the 59th minute, setting up a tense battle.
The match took a dramatic turn when Moroccan goalkeeper Benshaouch was injured, forcing substitute Ibrahim Gomez into action. Despite the challenge, Morocco persevered and gained a numerical advantage in extra time when France’s Zwingola received a red card. However, they couldn’t capitalize on this advantage, leading to a penalty shootout that Morocco won 5-4.
The Moroccan team’s victory was a collective effort, with players displaying immense character and resilience throughout the match. Substitute goalkeeper Gomez played a crucial role, holding firm against French pressure and contributing to the historic win.
Morocco’s journey to the final has been impressive, topping a group that included Spain and Brazil, and then defeating South Korea, the USA, and France. They will now face Argentina in the final, a team aiming for their seventh title and dominant throughout the tournament. Argentina edged Colombia 1-0 to reach the final.
The stage is set for a thrilling championship clash between Morocco, the history-making underdog, and Argentina, the unstoppable force. Morocco’s achievement is significant, and their participation in the final will be closely watched by football fans worldwide. The team’s determination and resilience have earned them a place in the history books, and their final match against Argentina promises to be an exciting encounter.