We’re not waiting to become world champions in 2030 – Morocco U-20 coach
We are not waiting until the 2030 World Cup to become world champions
Morocco’s U-20 head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, says nothing compares to the joy of winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup after guiding his side to a 2-0 victory over Argentina in the 2025 final at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez in Santiago, Chile.
Yassir Zabiri opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a free-kick that beat Argentine goalkeeper Santino Barbi. Morocco’s starman doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Othmane Maamma set up Zabiri for a close-range finish.
Zabiri was the hero of the night, scoring twice to seal Morocco’s maiden U-20 world title and finishing as one of the tournament’s top scorers with five goals. Midfielder Othmane Maamma was named the Golden Ball winner for his outstanding performances throughout the competition.
The triumph marked Africa’s second-ever world title at the youth level, matching Ghana’s historic achievement. Speaking to FIFA media after the match, Ouahbi said, “We are not waiting until the 2030 World Cup to become world champions. Morocco will try again in 2026. I do not think it gets any better than this.”
Reflecting on the final, the Moroccan coach praised his team’s discipline and composure, noting, “We were expecting them to play aggressively, so we had to keep our composure, and we did that brilliantly.”
Morocco will host the FIFA U-17 World Cup next month, continuing the nation’s remarkable rise in global football.
