Moroccan third-choice goalkeeper Abdelhakim El Mesbahi proved to be the hero as the young Atlas Lions reached the final of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
El Mesbahi saved the last penalty kick against France, which sent Morocco within touching distance of the World Cup, looking to emulate the Black Satellites of Ghana.
Lisandro Olmeta’s own goal handed Morocco the lead in the 32nd minute before Luis Michel equalised in the 59th minute for the French, as the semi-final ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Following a stale two halves of extra time, the game went into a penalty shootout, where El Mesbahi proved his mettle, coming from the bench with headshots of the French players and their likely shooting options printed on his water bottle.
Morocco would become the second African country after Ghana to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
