France U20 Eliminated by Morocco in Dramatic Penalty Shootout at U20 World Cup Semi-Final
France's U20 team was eliminated by Morocco in a tense 5-4 penalty shootout after a 1-1 semi-final draw at the 2025 U20 World Cup, ending their campaign before the final.
- • France U20 eliminated by Morocco after 1-1 draw and 5-4 penalties in semi-final.
- • Lucas Michal equalized for France after Morocco initially took lead via own goal.
- • France reduced to ten players after Rabby Nzingoula red card during match.
- • Moroccan goalkeeper Abdelhakim El Mesbahi crucial in penalty shootout victory.
Key details
In a gripping semi-final match of the 2025 U20 World Cup held at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso, Chile, France's U20 team was narrowly defeated by Morocco in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time. Morocco emerged victorious 5-4 on penalties, ending France's hopeful run to the final.
The match saw intense competition as France initially fell behind when a penalty incident involving Andréa Le Borgne led to an own goal by Lisandru Olmeta in the 29th minute. Demonstrating resilience, France equalized in the 59th minute with Lucas Michal scoring following a strong attack by Moustapha Dabo. Despite dominating the game, France struggled to convert chances effectively and faced a significant setback when Rabby Nzingoula was sent off with a second yellow card, reducing France to ten men.
The penalty shootout featured an unusual strategy from Morocco, with multiple goalkeeper substitutions that involved Yanis Benchaouch, Ibrahim Gomis, and ultimately Abdelhakim El Mesbahi, who played a key role in securing the victory by saving crucial penalties, including one from Djylian N'Guessan. His save, along with misses from French players Gady Beyuku and N'Guessan, sealed Morocco's advancement.
This semi-final appearance marked France's best run in the U20 World Cup since 2013, highlighting a talented squad that included Elyaz Zidane, son of football legend Zinedine Zidane. Morocco will now face the winner of the Argentina vs Colombia semi-final in the final on October 19, while France will compete for third place against the losing team from that match.
Coached by former World Cup champion Bernard Diomède, the French team, despite limited player availability due to club restrictions, delivered a commendable performance but fell short in the decisive moments. The dramatic loss underscores the fine margins in youth international football and the rise of Morocco as a strong contender on the world stage.