Morocco have made history by advancing to their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup final after edging past France 5-4 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw in the semi-final.
The Atlas Cubs opened the scoring in the 31st minute after a dramatic VAR intervention. Baouf was pulled down inside the French box, prompting head coach Mohamed Ouahbi to use the green card to request a review.
The referee pointed to the spot, and though Zabiri’s penalty struck the post, the ball rebounded off French goalkeeper Lisandru Olmeta and into the net, officially ruled as an own goal.
Morocco dominated the first half, dictating the tempo and pressing high. Maamma was particularly lively, firing one effort narrowly over the bar and missing another from close range after neat interplay with Yassine Gessime.
The Moroccan midfield controlled proceedings, cutting off France’s attacking flow and limiting them to just a single tame effort on target.
France, however, levelled in the 58th minute when a defensive lapse allowed Lucas Michal to poke home from close range.
Moments later, goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch produced a brilliant save to keep the Atlas Cubs alive but was later forced off due to injury, with Gomis stepping in.
The tension escalated in extra time as France went down to ten men in the 107th minute, Nzingoula received a second yellow card for dragging Gessime’s shirt. Despite their numerical advantage, Morocco couldn’t find the winner, though Maamma came close again with a curling shot that whisked inches wide.
France nearly stole it late in the 118th minute, but Morocco’s defence stood tall, and a VAR handball check against the North Africans was waved off.
In a bold move, coach Ouahbi substituted goalkeeper Mesbah for Gomis just before the shootout, a decision that paid off handsomely.
Morocco kept their cool from the spot to seal a 5-4 shootout victory, etching their name in history as the first Moroccan side to reach the U-20 World Cup final.
The Atlas Cubs will now battle six-time champions Argentina, who defeated Colombia 1-0 in the other semi-final, in the title clash scheduled for the early hours of Monday, October 20.
A win would see Morocco become only the second African nation, after Ghana in 2009, to lift the prestigious U-20 World Cup trophy.
