In the heart of Chile, Morocco’s U20 national team pulled off a stunning feat by defeating Brazil, thereby securing qualification for the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup after just two group-stage matches. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, along with players Naim Byar and Mohammed Kebdani, expressed their pride in the achievement, emphasizing the strength of a united team determined to go even further.
At the final whistle of Morocco’s 2-1 triumph over Brazil, joy and pride were written on every face. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed his satisfaction with the team’s tactical discipline, highlighting their solidarity and strength of character. Meanwhile, players Naim Byar and Mohammed Kebdani radiated euphoria. Together, their reactions reflected the spirit of a united squad, aware of its potential and already focused on the challenges ahead.
“Six points out of six in this group. So we’re very happy, especially with the way we won these two matches. We suffered a lot in the first half, but we managed to fix it together — with my staff and with the players. We found the solutions as a team.”
“We were a bit better and more balanced in the second half. Even though we were still defending, we knew we were going to get our opportunities. We knew chances would come, and once again we saw a united, cohesive team that knows what it’s doing, believes in itself, and shows a lot of positive energy. We’re very happy because the work with this group started a long time ago, and to be qualified for the Round of 16 after just the first two matches is fully deserved.”
A beautiful image of Morocco
“For us, it’s really important to be able to give this image: young Moroccan players fighting for their country, for their flag, wanting to make their loved ones and the whole nation proud. Even if it’s only football, I know it can bring a little smile. That means a lot to us, and I hope people will keep enjoying this team, because it still has so much to offer. I believe that with the ball we can give even more. I won’t be too demanding, but I think there are moments where we can be even stronger. And we will be, incha’Allah — we will keep growing.”
Ouahbi on potential Round of 16 opponents:
“We know the upcoming matches will be tough, because we’ve watched them and we know these teams. We know Japan, the USA, Argentina, Ukraine, and South Korea — very difficult opponents — but we’re prepared. Mentally, we believe in ourselves, but as I said before, we’ll stay humble. Of course, we have to enjoy this moment, but we keep moving forward, incha’Allah.”
The coach’s satisfaction was undoubtedly shared by his players, as reflected in the words of Naim Byar and Mohammed Kebdani, both of whom highlighted the quality of their “great performance” against Brazil, expressing the joy felt by the entire squad and staff. Byar emphasized the team’s mental strength, stressing how the group gave everything despite the difficulty, while also praising the “incredible” atmosphere created by the supporters and hoping to see even more of them in the upcoming matches. Echoing that sentiment, Kebdani dedicated the victory to Moroccan fans, especially those present at the stadium. He affirmed that the team’s strategy remains to approach the tournament “one match at a time” with the ultimate goal of reaching their final objective.
