Morocco expresses ambitions to be a prominent force in global football after making history as the first Arab nation to win the U20 World Cup, defeating Argentina 2-0 in the final held on Sunday.

A representative from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) conveyed to BBC Sport Africa that this victory demonstrates the effectiveness of their long-term investment in football over the last decade.

Forward Yassir Zabiri was the star of the match, netting both goals against the established champions at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile.

This historic win makes Morocco the second African country, after Ghana in 2009, to claim the U20 World Cup title.

King Mohammed VI, whose financial support has been pivotal in the sport’s development, congratulated the Atlas Cubs.

“We celebrate this remarkable achievement, which showcases your confidence and unity, along with your exceptional performance throughout the tournament,” he stated.

“You have brought joy to not just football enthusiasts, but to the entire Moroccan nation.”

The victory ignited celebrations across the nation.

“It was a night filled with excitement,” remarked football analyst Jalal Bounouar, who watched the match at midnight local time.

“Everyone was awake, stunned by the idea of being world champions for the first time.

“In every major city and small town, people filled the streets, waving flags, singing, and celebrating – honking car horns everywhere.

“Football is a passion for Moroccans, and this victory is significant.”

Making only their fourth appearance in the U20 World Cup – and the first since 2005 – Morocco qualified by finishing as runners-up in the recent U20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The Atlas Cubs started their campaign by defeating both Spain and Brazil, eventually progressing as group winners despite a loss to Mexico.

In the knockout phase, they triumphed over South Korea 2-1 before overcoming the United States 3-1 in the quarter-finals.

Morocco advanced to the final by defeating France 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 deadlock in regular and extra time.

Zabiri opened the scoring in the final with a well-placed curling free-kick in the 12th minute, followed by a volley from Othmane Maamma’s assist in the 29th minute, securing the victory.

Maamma, who transferred to Watford from Montpellier, has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and was awarded the golden ball for the tournament’s best player.

Zabiri also earned recognition, taking home the silver ball for being the joint top scorer with five goals throughout the tournament.

The enhancement of Moroccan football has been a continuous initiative by King Mohammed VI and the FRMF.

In 2008, the king first outlined his vision to harness football for social and economic growth, launching an academy in 2009 and a state-of-the-art $65 million training facility near Rabat in 2019 under his name.

Five players from the U20 World Cup final were trained at the academy, which has also produced talents such as Nayef Aguerd of Marseille, Azzedine Ounahi of Girona, and Youssef En-Nesyri of Fenerbahce, all of whom contributed to Morocco’s historic 2022 World Cup semi-final journey in Qatar.

“The Mohammed VI Football Academy has been crucial in developing young players,” noted Fathi Jamal, the FRMF’s technical development director.

The training complex boasts numerous amenities, including eight full-sized pitches, fitness facilities, a medical center, an Olympic swimming pool, and a luxury hotel.

Additionally, the federation has established various regional training hubs, invested in 7,000 amateur fields, and sought to modernize coaching staff while emphasizing the necessity of training domestic coaches.

Significant resources have also been allocated to refurbish and build stadiums to host the 2025 Afcon and co-organize the 2030 Fifa World Cup, with an overall expenditure projected at $5 billion.

“We have ambitious goals,” stated a knowledgeable source from the FRMF.

“There is much to accomplish, but we are moving in the right direction. The 2025 Afcon will be even more thrilling.”

Nonetheless, recent protests from Generation Z have highlighted dissatisfaction with football expenditures, advocating for investments in education, healthcare, housing, public transport, and job creation instead.

On the day before the U20 World Cup final, the royal palace announced its commitment to allocate 140 billion dirhams ($15 billion) in the 2026 budget towards health and education, marking a 16% increase from the previous year.

Morocco’s historic feat as the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar was succeeded by the Under-23 team securing bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Additionally, they have won three consecutive African Nations Championships (2018, 2020, 2024).

The FRMF is optimistic about expanding opportunities within women’s football, futsal, and beach soccer.

The Atlas Lionesses have reached the finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in the last two editions, while Morocco is hosting the Under-17 Women’s World Cup and plans to host the next four editions until 2029.

Moreover, BBC Sport Africa reports that members of the victorious U20 team are being encouraged to aspire for positions in the senior men’s national team for the 2030 World Cup.

Analyst Bounouar believes three players are already fit for inclusion in the squad for the upcoming Afcon, where there’s immense pressure to break the nation’s 50-year wait for a continental title.

“These players symbolize the future of Moroccan football,” he stated, emphasizing Maamma, Zabiri, and center-back Ismail Baouf as the strongest candidates “due to their talent, discipline, and competitive spirit.”

“The sentiment is that Moroccan football has entered its golden age.”