U20 World Cup/ Morocco’s penalty heroics seal historic final berth
A dramatic penalty shootout victory over France has sent Morocco into its first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup final. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with the Atlas Lions triumphing 5-4 on penalties.
Morocco took the lead in the first half through a Yassir Zabiri penalty, but France fought back after the break with an equalizer from Lucas Michal. The game remained deadlocked through a tense extra time period, which saw France reduced to ten men.
In a stunning tactical move, Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi substituted on third-choice goalkeeper Abdelhakim El Mesbahi specifically for the shootout. The gamble paid off spectacularly.
El Mesbahi, who had not played a single minute in the tournament prior, became the hero by saving the decisive penalty from France’s Djylian N’Guessan.
Morocco, which previously impressed by topping a group containing Brazil and Spain, will now face Argentina in the final.
This victory marks a historic achievement for the African nation, surpassing its previous best finish of fourth place in 2005. For France, the dream of a second U-20 world title ends in heartbreak.
