Morocco is heading to the U-20 World Cup final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France, fueled by a bold and unprecedented goalkeeping strategy. The Moroccan team prevailed 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, securing their place in the championship match.
The match hinged on a series of tactical substitutions by Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who utilized all three of his registered goalkeepers throughout the contest. Starting goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch was forced off with a leg injury during the frist half, prompting the introduction of ibrahim Gomis, a young goalkeeper from Olympique de Marseille. However, in a surprising move at the end of extra time, Ouahbi replaced Gomis with third-choice goalkeeper Abdelhakim Mesbahi specifically for the penalty shootout – a gamble that ultimately paid off. Mesbahi saved Djylian N’Guessan’s final penalty attempt, sealing the win for morocco.
This marks a historic moment for Moroccan football, as the U-20 team advances to the final for the first time. The victory underscores a willingness to innovate and take calculated risks, potentially setting a new standard for in-game management in penalty shootouts.
“I’m quite emotional because its a historic moment, but we want to win the final,” Ouahbi stated after the match. “We will calm down quickly as what we want is to win the cup. We will go after her with the same mentality.”
The match, played on October 16, 2025, was initially tied 1-1, leading to the tense penalty shootout. The final will be played at a date to be resolute, with Morocco aiming to secure their first-ever U-20 World Cup title.
