{"id":99564,"date":"2025-10-21T01:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T01:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=99564"},"modified":"2025-10-21T01:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T01:02:00","slug":"morocco-look-to-build-on-first-u20-world-cup-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=99564","title":{"rendered":"Morocco look to build on first U20 World Cup title"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>5 Minute, 34 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Morocco want to be a \u201cstrong contender\u201d at all levels of global football after becoming the first Arab country to win the Under-20 World Cup, having beaten Argentina 2-0 in the final on Sunday.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson close to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has told BBC Sport Africa the victory proves \u201cthe vision worked\u201d following the country\u2019s huge investment in the game over the past decade.<\/p>\n

Striker Yassir Zabiri scored both goals against the record six-time U20 World Cup champions in Santiago, Chile.<\/p>\n

Morocco became just the second African nation to lift the trophy,\u00a0emulating Ghana in 2009.<\/p>\n

King Mohammed VI, whose financial backing has been crucial in developing the game in recent years, paid tribute to the Atlas Cubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe salute this sporting achievement, the result of your high level of self-confidence, your unwavering belief in your potential and talent, the spirit of cohesion and harmony you have demonstrated, as well as your superb professional performance throughout this World Cup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as you have delighted and brought joy to the passionate football fans, you have also filled us with happiness, as well as the entire Moroccan people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Victory promoted celebrations throughout the kingdom.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a sleepless night,\u201d said football pundit Jalal Bounouar, who watched the game which kicked off at midnight local time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole country stayed awake all night, people could not believe what had happened, being champions of the world for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn every big city, in villages, in towns, people ran to the streets waving flags, singing, shouting, cars were honking.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoroccans are addicted to football and winning the World Cup means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did Morocco win the trophy?<\/h2>\n
U20 World Cup golden ball winner Othmane Maamma is still waiting to make his debut for Watford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Morocco were only making their fourth appearance at the U20 World Cup \u2013 and their first since 2005 \u2013 after qualifying as runners-up at this year\u2019s U20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).<\/p>\n

The Atlas Cubs beat Spain and Brazil in their opening two games, and went through as group winners despite a 1-0 defeat by Mexico.<\/p>\n

They saw off South Korea 2-1 in the last 16, then overcame the United States 3-1 in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

The North Africans progressed to the final by beating France 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.<\/p>\n

Zabiri, who is on the books of Portuguese top-flight side Famalicao, put Morocco ahead in the final with a fine curling free-kick in the 12th minute, then volleyed in a second from Othmane Maamma\u2019s cross in the 29th minute.<\/p>\n

Maamma,\u00a0who joined Watford from Montpellier in July\u00a0and has been dubbed the \u2018Moroccan Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019 following comparisons to the Portugal legend, won the golden ball for the best player at the finals.<\/p>\n

Zabiri was awarded the silver ball after finishing the tournament as joint-top scorer with five goals.<\/p>\n

By royal appointment<\/h2>\n
\"Morocco
King Mohammed VI of Morocco ascended to the throne in 1999<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rise of Moroccan football has been a long-term project for King Mohammed VI and the FRMF.<\/p>\n

The king first discussed his plan to use football as a tool for social and economic development in 2008, before opening an academy in 2009 and a $65m (\u00a348.5m) training facility near the capital Rabat in 2019 \u2013 both of which bear his name.<\/p>\n

Five of the players who started the U20 World Cup final attended the academy, as did the likes of Marseille centre-back Nayef Aguerd, Girona midfielder Azzedine Ounahi and Fenerbahce striker Youssef En-Nesyri \u2013 all of whom played a part in the Atlas Lions\u2019\u00a0historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t overlook the major role played by the Mohammed VI Football Academy, a pioneer in this field, where they\u2019ve done remarkable work with young players,\u201d Fathi Jamal, the director of technical development at the FRMF,\u00a0told Fifa.com.<\/p>\n

The training facility boasts eight full-size pitches, gym and medical facilities, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a 5-star hotel among its amenities.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the federation has set up its own regional training centres, invested in 7,000 amateur pitches, and looked to modernise its technical staff, emphasising the importance of training local coaches.<\/p>\n

Vast sums have also been spent on redeveloping and building stadiums to stage the 2025 Afcon and co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup \u2013 with the total costs reported as $5bn (\u00a33.7bn).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are ambitious,\u201d said the spokesperson with knowledge of the FRMF\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is more work to do, but we are in a good direction. Afcon (2025) will be even more exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0recent Gen Z protests displayed anger at the sums spent on football\u00a0with calls for money to be channelled into education, healthcare, housing, transport and job creation instead.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, ahead of the U20 World Cup final, the royal palace released a statement promising to allocate 140 billion dirhams ($15bn, \u00a311.2bn) in the 2026 budget to health and education, a 16% increase on last year.<\/p>\n

Protests by members of Gen Z continue in Morocco, demanding reforms in education and healthcare as well as stronger action against corruption<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What next for Morocco?<\/h2>\n

Morocco\u2019s achievement in becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup at Qatar 2022 was followed by the Under-23s winning bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.<\/p>\n

They have also won the past three African Nations Championships in which they have participated (2018, 2020 and 2024).<\/p>\n

But the FRMF believes the potential also stretches to the female game, as well as futsal and beach soccer.<\/p>\n

The Atlas Lionesses have been runners-up at the past two editions of the Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, while Morocco is currently staging the Under-17 Women\u2019s World Cup \u2013 and will host the next four editions up to 2029.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, BBC Sport Africa understands that members of the successful U20 squad are being told to aim for a place in the men\u2019s senior side at the 2030 World Cup.<\/p>\n

But Bounouar thinks three players are already good enough to be included in Walid Regragui\u2019s squad for the upcoming Afcon, when pressure will be intense to end the nation\u2019s 50-year wait for a continental title.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese players represent the future of Moroccan football,\u201d he said, highlighting Maamma, Zabiri and centre-back Ismail Baouf as the likeliest inclusions \u201ccombining skill, discipline and the winning spirit\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe country believes that Moroccan football has entered the golden era.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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