Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Morocco’s under-20 national football team are set for a royal welcome on Wednesday evening following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile — the first time an African nation has ever lifted the trophy.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol, and Chancellery announced that King Mohammed VI will personally receive the players and coaching staff at the Royal Palace in Rabat. The audience will be followed by a public parade through the capital, beginning at Bab Essoufara and continuing along Avenue Mohammed V from 6:30 p.m., where thousands of fans are expected to line the streets to celebrate their new world champions.
Zibiri double seals historic title
Morocco sealed their fairytale campaign with a 2-0 victory over Argentina in Santiago on Sunday, thanks to a dazzling first-half brace from Zibiri Yacine, the gifted 19-year-old winger from the Mohammed VI Football Academy.
Zibiri opened the scoring just minutes after kick-off with a perfectly struck free kick, curling his effort beyond the Argentine goalkeeper to give the Atlas Cubs a dream start.
Midway through the first half, he doubled the lead after combining brilliantly with captain Othman Maama, who threaded a clever pass behind the Argentine defence for Zibiri to calmly slot home.
The brace capped a superb tournament for the young forward and confirmed Morocco’s place among the elite of world youth football.
“It’s unbelievable,” Zibiri told BBC Sport Africa after the final. “To score twice in a World Cup final and bring the trophy home — I’ll never forget this moment. We fought for Morocco, for our King, and for everyone who believed in us.”
A run to remember
The Atlas Cubs’ journey to glory was one of courage and conviction. Morocco overcame a series of heavyweights on their path to the crown — Brazil, Spain, the United States, South Korea, and finally Argentina — displaying tactical intelligence and mental resilience throughout the tournament.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who has spent years nurturing young Moroccan talent, praised his players for their unity and discipline.
“These boys have written history,” said Ouahbi. “They respected every opponent but feared no one. Their focus and humility carried them through, and today they’ve given the Moroccan people a memory that will last forever.”
Captain Othman Maama, who led by example in midfield, described the triumph as “a dream come true for an entire generation.”
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” he said. “But we played with heart, we trusted our system, and we believed until the end. This victory belongs to every Moroccan.”
Joy across the nation
The team arrived home late on Tuesday night to jubilant scenes at Rabat-Salé Airport, where thousands of fans — some waving flags, others dancing in red and green — gave the champions a hero’s welcome.
Cries of “Dima Maghrib!” echoed across the terminal as the players held the trophy aloft, smiling and waving from the team bus that would take them to the capital.
Fruit of a long-term vision
Morocco’s U-20 triumph is seen as the culmination of years of strategic investment in youth football. The Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmoura has become the heartbeat of the national setup, offering world-class facilities for training, education, and talent development.
The Mohammed VI Academy, where Zibiri honed his skills, stands as a symbol of that vision — producing players with technical excellence and tactical maturity who now shine on the world stage.
“This title is proof that Morocco’s project works,” said Ouahbi. “We built a system that focuses on education, discipline, and opportunity. These young men are the result of that dream.”
Morocco’s golden era continues
From the senior men’s team’s historic World Cup semi-final in Qatar to the women’s side’s debut at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and now the under-20s’ world title in Chile, Morocco’s football renaissance continues to inspire the continent.
“We’ve made history, but we also know it’s just the beginning,” said Ouahbi. “Morocco belongs among the world’s best — and we’ll keep working to stay there.”
As the royal audience and citywide celebrations unfold, the images of Zibiri’s free-kick masterpiece and the young Atlas Cubs lifting the trophy in Santiago will forever mark a defining moment in Morocco’s football story — one born from vision, discipline, and belief.
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