The Moroccan national team continued its impressive results in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. After opening with a 2-0 win against Spain, they defeated Brazil, five-time champions, 2-1 in Chile, securing qualification to the round of 16.

Morocco raised its points tally to six from two matches, guaranteeing the top spot in the group that also includes Mexico (two points), whom they will face in the final group stage match tomorrow.

After a first half with few chances, Morocco opened the scoring with a spectacular acrobatic goal from Watford’s Othman Maamoun (60th minute).

Maamoun said, “We are happy to qualify from this group, which was described as the group of death. We must focus on the match against Mexico, and I am proud of the team.”

The Atlas Lions doubled the score through Yasser Zubairi with a left-footed shot (76), after the Famalicão player also scored in the first match against Spain.

Yassin Jassem, midfielder for Dunkirk and the best player in Morocco’s two matches so far, said, “I’m not the best player in the match, but the whole team is.”

Brazil reduced the deficit in stoppage time from a penalty kick.

Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi said, “We struggled in the first half and corrected the mistakes in the second. We present a positive image of Morocco. Moroccan football is developing. Everyone left their legacy so that my technical staff and I are in the best conditions to achieve these results. We qualified for the round of 16 and will play the last match calmly.”

Morocco’s best previous result was finishing fourth in the 2005 edition in the Netherlands.

Wahbi, on the verge of tears about the unity spirit within the group, added, “We will give others a chance in the next match… This is just football, we know there are more important things happening in our country right now, but it is important to give our people this smile and confirm our ability to achieve accomplishments together.”

Morocco is witnessing riots following protests organized by “Generation Z 212,” a youth movement demanding reforms in the health and education sectors.

Meanwhile, Brazil coach Ramon Menezes, who temporarily managed the senior Brazilian team in 2023, said, “It is a very painful result. We had chances to finish the match, but football matches last 90, 95, 100 minutes. We knew the difficulties of this match. I think we were better, but we did not score.”

This is the first time Brazil has failed to win its first two matches in the U-20 World Cup, after opening with a 2-2 draw against Mexico.