Morocco's U-20 team pulled off a historic feat by qualifying for the final of the World Cup after defeating France in an epic penalty shoot-out. The North Africans held France to a 1-1 draw after normal time and won 5-4 from the spot to seal their place among the elite of international youth football.
The match, played in Valparaiso, was a high-intensity battle between two opposing styles: Moroccan solidity against French control. The “Lions of Atlas” took the lead before half-time with a forced move that threw the opposition defence off balance. France reacted in the second half, but were unable to break down the tactical wall set up by the Moroccan coach.
In the final shootout, the unexpected figure of goalkeeper Abdelhakim El Mesbahi, a regular substitute, emerged to save the decisive spot-kick with a composure unbefitting his age. His intervention turned the night into a national celebration and sparked euphoria in Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, where thousands of fans watched the match on giant screens.
The achievement puts Morocco in a very small group of African nations to have reached an Under-20 World Cup final. Until now, only Ghana and Nigeria had done so, but never a team from the north of the continent.
Their opponents in the final will be Argentina, who come into the tournament on the back of their victory over Colombia. Whatever the result on Sunday, Morocco have already left an indelible mark: that of a country that has learned to compete with soul, discipline and an unshakeable belief in its football.
Source: moroccoworldnews.com;