Morocco Triumphs Over France 5-4 on Penalties to Reach U-20 World Cup Final
History was made on Wednesday night at the Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander as the Moroccan U-20 national team secured a sensational victory over their French counterparts, winning 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout to book their spot in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™.
The highly anticipated semi-final clash, which was evenly poised from the start, finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of intense football, setting the stage for a tense penalty lottery.
Morocco, who have impressed throughout the tournament, took the lead in the 32nd minute. The goal came in slightly fortuitous fashion when France goalkeeper Lisandru Olmeta conceded an own goal under pressure.
However, the French side, showing their pedigree, fought back in the second half. Forward Lucas Michal found the equalizer in the 59th minute, assisted by Kangoura Dabo, ensuring the scores were level at the end of regular time.
A tight and cagey extra time period followed, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite a red card shown to a French player late on. The match was ultimately decided from the spot.
In the ensuing penalty shootout, Morocco’s young stars held their nerve, converting five decisive kicks to the French team’s four, sealing a memorable 5-4 victory and sparking jubilant celebrations across the stadium and back home.
This historic win propels Morocco into their first-ever final at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, a stunning achievement that continues the rise of Moroccan football on the global stage. They now await the winner of the second semi-final between Argentina and Colombia.
