Morocco national under-20 football team
National under-20 association football team representing Morocco
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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.
| Nickname | The Atlas Cubs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Royal Moroccan Football Federation | ||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Home stadium | Various | ||
| FIFA code | MAR | ||
| |||
| FIFA U-20 World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 4 (first in 1977) | ||
| Best result |  Champions (2025) | ||
| U-20 Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Appearances | 11 (first in 1979) | ||
| Best result |  Champions (1997) | ||
| Arab Cup U-20 | |||
| Appearances | 8 (first in 1983) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1989, 2011) | ||
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, the first for the Arab World and the second for Africa, after Ghana's triumph in 2009.[17][18]
On 22 October 2025, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan hosted the national team at the royal palace to honor their World Cup victory.[19]
At the 2025 CAF Awards, the Morocco under-20 national team was named the Best National Team of the Year, becoming the first non-senior national side to receive the honour.[20]
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.[21]
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 | GK | Yanis Benchaouch | 10 April 2006 | 18 | 0 |  Monaco |
| 12 | GK | Ibrahim Gomis | 20 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | Marseille |
| 16 | GK | Hakim Mesbahi | 7 September 2005 | 18 | 0 |  AS FAR |
| 2 | DF | Hamza Koutoune | 17 September 2006 | 15 | 0 | Annecy |
| 3 | DF | Ali Maamar | 23 March 2005 | 24 | 0 |  Anderlecht |
| 4 | DF | Ismaël Baouf | 17 September 2006 | 12 | 1 |  Cambuur |
| 13 | DF | Taha Majni | 11 October 2007 | 4 | 0 | Union Touarga |
| 15 | DF | Fouad Zahouani | 18 April 2006 | 16 | 0 | Union Touarga |
| 19 | DF | Smail Bakhty | 29 November 2006 | 14 | 2 |  Sturm Graz |
| 20 | DF | Mohammed Kebdani | 13 May 2006 | 1 | 0 | AS FAR |
| 5 | MF | Anas Tajaouart | 7 September 2005 | 12 | 1 | Anderlecht |
| 6 | MF | Naïm Byar | 23 February 2005 | 11 | 1 | Wydad AC |
| 8 | MF | Hossam Essadak | 30 July 2005 | 20 | 1 | Union de Touarga |
| 10 | MF | Saad El Haddad | 24 July 2005 | 19 | 7 |  Pineto |
| 18 | MF | Yassine Khalifi | 9 August 2005 | 28 | 3 | Sporting Charleroi |
| 7 | FW | Othmane Maamma | 6 October 2005 | 23 | 5 |  Watford |
| 9 | FW | Younes El Bahraoui | 4 January 2005 | 4 | 1 | KAC Marrakech |
| 11 | FW | Ilias Boumassaoudi | 14 January 2005 | 19 | 5 | Den Bosch |
| 14 | FW | Mohamed Hamony | 5 August 2006 | 3 | 0 |  Girona B |
| 17 | FW | Gessime Yassine | 22 November 2005 | 11 | 3 | Strasbourg |
| 21 | FW | Yassir Zabiri | 23 February 2005 | 25 | 16 | Rennes |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the Morocco U-20 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible.
Previous squads
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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 |
| 2026 |
To be determined | |||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| 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 |
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 | 0.00 |
 Brazil |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 50.00 |
| Chile |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
| France |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
 Honduras |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 50.00 |
 Hungary |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0.00 |
| Italy |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 0.00 |
| 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 | 0.00 |
| Nigeria |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0.00 |
 Republic of Ireland |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0.00 |
| South Korea |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
| Spain |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 50.00 |
 United States |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 100.00 |
 Uruguay |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0.00 |
| Total | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 42.86 |
