A first-half Saimon Bouabre brace proved enough to see France by Norway, and they’ll join Morocco in the semi-finals after they beat out USA at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™.
USA 1-3 Morocco
USA goal: Campbell pen (45+6)
Morocco goals: Zahouani (31), Wynder own goal (67), Yassine (87)
Morocco’s fairytale campaign continued as they proved too strong for USA in Rancagua.
The US dominated the opening half an hour but were caught cold by a lightning Morocco counter. Saad El Haddad sped down the left and floated a ball to the back post for Othmane Maamma. That effort was saved, but his ingenious flick on the follow-up set up Fouad Zahouani to tap in.
USA pushed back and were handed a golden chance to level just before the break, when Nolan Norris was pulled down in the area by Ali Maamar. Cole Campbell stepped up and tucked the resulting spot-kick home.
Zahouani then, quite literally, had a hand in his side’s second goal. His long throw caused chaos in the States’ box, with Yassir Zabiri’s volley towards goal flying in off Joshua Wynder. The game was made safe shortly before the end, with Gessime Yassine capitalising on a defensive mix-up to fire home. The Atlas Cubs will take on Norway or France in Valparaiso on Wednesday.
Quotes
“I’m not going to talk about Man of the Match because it’s thanks to my team-mates that we put in a real team performance. It was our mentality and the love of the people that made us play such a great game tonight. We didn’t underestimate the opponent, we played the way we know, and I’m really happy with my team. They’re fantastic, I have nothing to add. As I’ve said from the start, I trust in my staff, in the work done behind the scenes, and I trust in my team.”
Othmane Maamma, Morocco player
“We know very well that we can do damage to any team, because we’ve got quality players up front. And above all, what really makes the difference is that our defenders are very solid, and the attacking players also do the defensive work. So they went out there and earned this qualification. They’re in the process of writing their own story. This generation truly deserves it, because it’s an absolute pleasure to work with them.”
Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco coach
Stat
Morocco will play a FIFA U-20 World Cup semi-final for the first time in 20 years.
Legends in the making: buy tickets to Chile 2025
Norway 1-2 France
Norway goal: Holten (83)
France goals: Bouabre (19, 37)
France haven’t always been at their fluid best in Chile but regardless they’re through to their first semi-finals in 12 years after a narrow and, at times, nervy win over Norway.
Once again the electric Saimon Bouabre was at the heart of things and he put the French ahead with a fine strike midway through the opening term, racing on to a lofted ball from Noham Kamara, killing it with his left and lashing home with his right.
Approaching the interval and the Saudi-based sensation made it two; this time steering an effort past Einar Fauskanger after a cushioned header from Andrea Le Borgne gave him time and space.
Norway resorted to sending towering defender Rasmus Holten up front late on and that paid dividends as he powered an 83rd-minute header home to reduce the deficit.
Twice Norway came close to pulling level through Hakon Roston, only to be denied by the once-again impressive Lisandru Olmeta. France now set up a last-four date against a Morocco side that have several stars who ply their domestic trade in the nation.
Stat
Saimon Bouabre’s goal was the first Norway had conceded from open play all tournament. They went unbreached (barring a Talal Haji penalty) for some 409 minutes of football.
