Morocco demonstrated remarkable composure as they triumphed over France in a nail-biting penalty shootout, securing their spot in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a thrilling 1-1 stalemate that extended through 120 minutes at the Elías Figueroa Brande Stadium. The North African team clinched the victory with a 6-5 win in the shootout on Wednesday, now awaiting the outcome of the Colombia-Argentina semi-final to determine their final opponent.
The match saw Morocco take an early lead in the 32nd minute when Yassir Zabiri’s penalty inadvertently became an own goal by French defender Lisandru Olmeta. France equalized in the second half with a goal from Lucas Michal in the 59th minute, and despite numerous late opportunities for both teams, the score remained tied at the end of regulation time.
Morocco’s situation became more challenging when starting goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch was injured, prompting Ibrahim Gomis to step in at the start of the second half. France faced a setback in the first period of extra time when Rabby Nzingoula was shown a second yellow card, leaving them with ten players. This shift in momentum favored Morocco, yet neither team could capitalize on their chances during the additional 30 minutes, including a notable opportunity by Othmane Maamma.
In the penalty shootout, Morocco successfully converted six kicks compared to France’s five, with contributions from Younes El Bahraoui, Ilias Boumassaoudi, Yassir Zabiri, Mohamed Hamony, Saad El Haddad, and Byar. The victory marked a thrilling evening in Valparaíso, where Moroccan supporters created a vibrant atmosphere, celebrating their team’s achievement in reaching the U-20 final. Meanwhile, France will need to regroup as they prepare for the third-place playoff. Morocco will now meet Argentina in the championship match final. Morocco topped its group, beating Spain and Brazil in the process, and then beat South Korea and the United States to reach the semifinals.
