Morocco national under-20 football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Morocco women's national under-20 football team.

Morocco U-20

Nickname	The Atlas Cubs
Association	Royal Moroccan Football Federation
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Mohamed Ouahbi
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	MAR
First colours Second colours
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	11 (first in 1979 )
Best result	Winners (1997)
Arab Cup U-20
Appearances	8 (first in 1983 )
Best result	Winners (1989, 2011)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 1977 )
Best result	Winners (2025)
Medal record FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025 Chile Team U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 1997 Morocco 2025 Egypt Team Arab Cup U-20 1989 Iraq 2011 Morocco 1983 Morocco Mediterranean Games 2013 Mersin Islamic Solidarity Games 2013 Palembang 2005 Mecca

Morocco national under-20 football team, represents Morocco in association football at an under-20 age level and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Morocco. The current coach is Mohamed Ouahbi.

History

On 24 December 2020, Morocco won the 2020 UNAF U-20 Tournament and qualified for the 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. ^[1] In the 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco topped their group stage after winning 1-0 against Gambia, ^[2] drawing 0-0 with Ghana, and defeating Tanzania 2-0. ^[3] Their campaign ended after losing to Tunisia on penalties. ^[4]

In the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco did very well in the group stage and finished first in their group. They started by beating Kenya 3-2 in an exciting match. ^[5] Then, they played a tough game against Nigeria that ended in a 0-0 draw. ^[6] In their last group match, they won 3-1 against Tunisia. ^[7] These results helped them move on to the knockout stage as the top team in their group. In the quarterfinal, Morocco beat Sierra Leone 1-0 in extra time. ^[8] Then, in the semifinal, they defeated Egypt 1-0 to reach the final. ^[9] In the final, Morocco lost 1-0 to first time champions South Africa. ^[10]

In the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Morocco advanced to the knockout stages after finishing first in their group. They defeated Spain 2-0 and Brazil 2-1, ^{[11] [12]} but lost to Mexico 1-0. ^[13] In the Round of 16 they beat South Korea 2-1. ^[14] In the quarterfinals they defeated the USA 3-1. ^[15] In the semifinal on 15 October 2025, they beat France on penalties, securing a place in the World Cup final for the first time in their history. ^[16] On 20 October 2025, Morocco defeated Argentina 2–0 in the final, claiming their first-ever world title and the second for Africa, after Ghana's triumph in 2009. ^{[17] [18]}

Players

Current squad

The following players were named in the squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup between 27 September – 19 October 2025. ^[19]

Caps and goals are correct as of 1 October 2025, after the match against Brazil.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1 GK	Yanis Benchaouch	(2006-04-10) 10 April 2006 (age 19)	18	0	Monaco
12	1 GK	Ibrahim Gomis	(2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Marseille
16	1 GK	Hakim Mesbahi	(2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 20)	18	0	AS FAR
2	2 DF	Hamza Koutoune	(2006-09-17) 17 September 2006 (age 19)	15	0	Annecy
3	2 DF	Ali Maamar	(2005-03-23) 23 March 2005 (age 20)	24	0	Anderlecht
4	2 DF	Ismaël Baouf	(2006-09-17) 17 September 2006 (age 19)	12	1	Cambuur
13	2 DF	Taha Majni	(2007-10-11) 11 October 2007 (age 18)	4	0	Union Touarga
15	2 DF	Fouad Zahouani	(2006-04-18) 18 April 2006 (age 19)	16	0	Union Touarga
19	2 DF	Smail Bakhty	(2006-11-29) 29 November 2006 (age 18)	14	2	Sturm Graz
20	2 DF	Mohammed Kebdani	(2006-05-13) 13 May 2006 (age 19)	1	0	AS FAR
5	3 MF	Anas Tajaouart	(2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 20)	12	1	Anderlecht
6	3 MF	Naïm Byar	(2005-02-23) 23 February 2005 (age 20)	11	1	Foggia
8	3 MF	Hossam Essadak	(2005-07-30) 30 July 2005 (age 20)	20	1	Union de Touarga
10	3 MF	Saad El Haddad	(2005-07-24) 24 July 2005 (age 20)	19	7	Venezia
18	3 MF	Yassine Khalifi	(2005-08-09) 9 August 2005 (age 20)	28	3	Sporting Charleroi
7	4 FW	Othmane Maamma	(2005-10-06) 6 October 2005 (age 20)	23	5	Watford
9	4 FW	Younes El Bahraoui	(2005-01-04) 4 January 2005 (age 20)	4	1	KAC Marrakech
11	4 FW	Ilias Boumassaoudi	(2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 (age 20)	19	5	Den Bosch
14	4 FW	Mohamed Hamony	(2006-08-05) 5 August 2006 (age 19)	3	0	Girona B
17	4 FW	Gessime Yassine	(2005-11-22) 22 November 2005 (age 19)	11	3	Dunkerque
21	4 FW	Yassir Zabiri	(2005-02-23) 23 February 2005 (age 20)	25	16	Famalicão

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the Morocco U-20 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
DF	Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal	(2006-04-16) 16 April 2006 (age 19)	6	0	Amiens	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Ahmed Khatir	(2005-03-14) 14 March 2005 (age 20)	22	0	Beveren	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Naoufel El Hannach	(2006-12-07) 7 December 2006 (age 18)	5	1	Paris Saint-Germain	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Juliën Mesbahi	(2006-01-31) 31 January 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Twente	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Issa Habri	(2006-01-06) 6 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Rennes	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Reda Laalaoui	(2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 20)	24	6	Hull City	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Anas El Makkaoui	(2005-04-09) 9 April 2005 (age 20)	14	1	FUS Rabat	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Ismaël Aouad	(2006-05-22) 22 May 2006 (age 19)	6	2	Lens	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Amine Boukamir	(2006-10-23) 23 October 2006 (age 18)	3	0	Royal Charleroi	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Ayman Arguigue	(2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 20)	11	5	Huesca	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Mouad Dahak	(2005-07-22) 22 July 2005 (age 20)	20	8	Union de Touarga	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Jones El-Abdellaoui	(2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Celta Vigo	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Adnane Kharroubi	(2006-08-03) 3 August 2006 (age 19)	1	1	Caen	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Adam Boayar	(2005-10-13) 13 October 2005 (age 20)	11	1	Elche	2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

Previous squads

FIFA World Youth Championship squads 1977 FIFA WYC 1997 FIFA WYC 2005 FIFA WYC

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations squads 2005 AYC squad 2021 CAN U-20 squad

FIFA U-20 World Cup

FIFA U-20 World Cup
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1977	Group stage	3	0	0	3	0	6
1979	Did not qualify
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997	Round of 16	4	1	2	1	5	4
1999	Did not qualify
2001
2003
2005	Fourth Place	7	3	1	3	11	10
2007	Did not qualify
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2023
2025	Champions	7	5	1	1	12	5
2027	To be determined
Total	4/25	21	9	4	8	28	25

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1979	Second round	2	0	1	1	0	2
1981	First round	2	1	0	1	1	1
1983	Quarterfinals	4	2	1	1	7	3
1985	Quarterfinals	4	2	1	1	4	3
1987	Semifinals	6	4	0	2	10	4
1989	First Round	2	1	0	1	2	2
1991	Did not qualify
1993	Group stage	3	1	0	2	4	6
1995	Did not qualify
1997	Winner	5	3	1	1	5	2
1999	Did not qualify
2001
2003	Group stage	3	0	1	2	0	5
2005	Fourth Place	5	2	3	0	8	5
2007	Did not qualify
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021	Quarterfinals	4	2	2	0	4	0
2023	Did not qualify
2025	Runners-up	6	4	1	1	13	8
Total	12/23	46	22	11	13	58	41

Tournament Records

UNAF U-20 Tournament record

UNAF U-20 Tournament
Appearances: 15 / 18
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2005	did not participate
2006	Runners-up	2	4	2	2	0	?	?
2007	Fourth Place	4	3	1	0	2	2	4
2008	Fourth Place	4	4	2	0	2	5	4
2009	Third Place	3	3	2	0	1	3	3
2010	Fourth Place	4	3	0	2	1	2	4
2011	Fourth Place	4	3	0	1	2	0	4
2012	Third Place	3	2	1	0	1	3	3
2012	Third Place	3	3	1	1	1	4	4
2014	Runner-up	2	2	1	0	1	3	3
2015	Winner	1	2	2	0	0	5	2
2016	canceled
2019	Fourth Place	4	4	1	2	1	3	4
2020	Winner	1	3	1	2	0	2	1
2021	withdrew
2022	Third Place	3	1	1	1	2	1	4
2023	Runner-up	4	2	1	1	12	7	7
2024	Winner	1	4	3	1	0	9	3
Total	w	3	47	20	13	14	54?	47?

Arab Cup U-20 record

Arab Cup U-20
Appearances: 8 / 8
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1983	Third Place	3rd	7	5	1	1	9	3
1985	Group stage	11th	2	0	1	1	0	2
1989	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	14	4
1992	Cancelled
2011	Champions	1st	5	3	2	0	6	3
2012	Group stage	6th	3	1	1	1	3	3
2014	Cancelled
2020	Semi-finals	4th	5	4	0	1	12	7
2021	Quarter-finals	5th	4	3	1	0	16	2
2022	Quarter-finals	6th	3	2	0	1	6	4
Total	Best: Champions	2nd	35	23	7	5	66	28

Mediterranean Games

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1991	Bronze Medal	3rd	3	2	0	1	6	3
1993	Group stage	9th	2	0	1	1	0	2
1997	did not enter
2001	Group stage	8th	2	1	0	1	6	4
2005	Fourth Place	4th	5	1	2	2	3	3
2009	withdrew
2013	Gold Medal	1st	5	4	1	0	12	5
2018	Bronze Medal	3rd	4	1	2	1	5	5
2022	Bronze Medal	3rd	5	2	1	2	8	6
2026	To be determined
2030
Total	1 Title	7/9	25	11	7	8	40	28

UNAF U-18 Tournament

UNAF U-18 Tournament
Appearances: 2 / 2
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2017	Runners-up	2	3	1	1	1	3	3
2019	Winner	1	4	3	1	0	7	1
Total	w	1	7	4	2	1	10	4

Jeux de la Francophonie

Football at the Jeux de la Francophonie record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1989	Silver Medal	2nd	5	3	1	1	10	7
1994	Fourth Place	4th	4	2	0	2	5	6
1997	did not enter
2001	Gold Medal	1st	6	3	3	0	12	3
2005	Group Stage	9th	3	1	0	2	4	4
2009	Bronze Medal	3rd	4	3	0	1	6	3
2013	Silver Medal	2nd	4	1	1	2	4	4
2017	Gold Medal	1st	5	3	2	0	13	1
2023	did not enter
2027	To be determined
Total	2 Titles	7/9	31	16	7	8	54	28

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Morocco's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Argentina	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00
Belgium	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Brazil	2	1	0	1	3	3	+0	050.00
Chile	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
France	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Honduras	2	1	0	1	5	1	+4	050.00
Hungary	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2	000.00
Italy	1	0	1	0	2	2	+0	000.00
Japan	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Malaysia	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	100.00
Mexico	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	000.00
Nigeria	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3	000.00
Republic of Ireland	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1	000.00
South Korea	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
Spain	2	1	0	1	3	3	+0	050.00
United States	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	100.00
Uruguay	2	0	1	1	0	3	−3	000.00
Total	21	9	4	8	28	25	+3	042.86

Honours

International

• FIFA U-20 World Cup:

Champions: 2025

Continental

• U-20 Africa Cup of Nations:

Champions: 1997

Runners-up: 2025

Third Place: 1987

Regional

• Arab Cup U-20:

Champions: 1989, 2011

Third Place: 1983

• Mediterranean Games:

Champions: 2013

• Islamic Solidarity Games
  • Gold Medalists (1): 2013
• Jeux de la Francophonie ^[20]
  • Gold Medalists (2): 2001, 2017
  • Silver Medal: 1989, 2013
  • Bronze Medal: 2009

Qualifying tournament

• UNAF U-20 Tournament:

Champions: 2015, 2020, 2024

Runners-up: 2006, 2014, 2023

Third Place: 2008, 2009, March 2012, December 2012, 2022

References

1. "2020 UNAF U-20 Tournament: Morocco Qualifies for Africa U-20 Cup of Nations Following Draw with Libya | MapNews". www.mapnews.ma. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
2. "U-20 Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco Defeats Gambia 1-0 in Group C". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
3. "U20 AFCON: Morocco To Face Tunisia in Quart-Finals". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
4. "U20 Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco Loses to Tunisia in Quarter-Final". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
5. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-05-04). "Morocco's U20 team set for key clash with Nigeria after win over Kenya". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
6. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-05-04). "U20 National team, Nigeria play to draw at Africa U-20 Cup of Nations". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
7. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-05-07). "Morocco advances to U-20 Africa Cup quarterfinals with 3-1 win over Tunisia". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
8. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-05-12). "Morocco U-20 team reaches AFCON semifinals and qualifies for 2025 World Cup". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
9. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-05-15). "Morocco U20 team secures AFCON final after beating Egypt 1-0". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
10. "South Africa crowned U-20 AFCON champions after historic win over Morocco". South Africa crowned U-20 AFCON champions after historic win over Morocco. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
11. "Morocco end 20-year wait with famous win over Spain at U-20 World Cup". Morocco end 20-year wait with famous win over Spain at U-20 World Cup. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
12. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-02). "Morocco U20 players hail victory over Brazil, eye Mexico clash". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
13. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-04). "Morocco U-20s fall to Mexico 1-0 but advance as group leaders at FIFA U-20 World Cup". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
14. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-10). "World Cup-U20: Morocco eliminates South Korea (2-1), advances to quarterfinals". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
15. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-12). "Morocco U20 team advances to World Cup semifinals after 3-1 victory over USA in Chile". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
16. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-15). "Morocco beats France on penalties to reach U20 World Cup final". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
17. MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-20). "Morocco beat Argentina 2–0 to win first-ever U20 World Cup title in Chile". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
18. "Morocco crowned world champions at the FIFA U-20 World Cup". Morocco crowned world champions at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
19. "السيد محمد وهبي يستدعي 21 لاعبا للمشاركة في كأس العالم لأقل من 20 سنة" (in Arabic). الجامعة الملكية المغربية لكرة القدم. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
20. "Coupe/Jeux de la Francophonie". Rsssf. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.