Morocco delivered a commanding performance to defeat Argentina 2–0 in the men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup Final, capping off a spirited campaign with tactical discipline and clinical finishing.
Played in the early hours of Monday, in Chile, the match saw the North Africans outplay the two-time world champions in key moments, with Yassir Zabiri emerging as the hero of the night after scoring both goals for Morocco.
The breakthrough came in the 12th minute when Zabiri curled a stunning free kick into the top left corner, leaving Argentina’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
The young Atlas Lions doubled their advantage in the 29th minute, with Zabiri again on target, this time slotting home a composed finish inside the box after a clever assist from Othmane Maamma.
Argentina, coached by Diego Placente, struggled to find rhythm despite enjoying longer spells of possession. They pressed hard in the second half but were repeatedly denied by Morocco’s solid defensive wall marshalled by Hossam Essadak and the alert goalkeeping of Ibrahim Gomis, who made several vital saves.
The South Americans came close to scoring in stoppage time when Ian Subiabre’s powerful header was parried by Gomis, summing up a frustrating night for the Albiceleste.
The encounter also featured drama, with two VAR checks denying Argentina penalty appeals-one in the 58th minute and another late in the game. Referee Maurizio Mariani kept control of a tense match that saw multiple yellow cards, including bookings for Milton Delgado, Maher Carrizo, and Ian Subiabre.
Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, made timely substitutions to maintain control, introducing Younes El Bahraoui and Taha Majni in the closing stages to secure the result. Morocco’s victory marks the first African triumph in the U20 World Cup since Ghana’s 2009 edition, signaling a shifting global balance in youth development.
