…Fine Setting for a Clash with Winner of Norway Vs France Tango in Semis.
Africa on Sunday night at Teniente, Chile through the Atlas Lions of Morocco whipped the Yankees Boys of USA 3-1 in the quarterfinal of the world U20 men’s championship to roar into the Semifinals, the second for Morocco since 2005.
Morocco got a win in the match clearly dominated by the high scoring Americans by scoring first through overlapping Defender, Fouad Zahouani in the 31st minute when Maama laid a pass unto him; Cole Campbell of USA playing for Borussia Dortmund equalized from the spot kick at 45+6th minute at half time.
USA’s Joshua Wynder who gave South Africa an Own Goal in the Mandela Boys 2-1 victory again scored an own goal in the 66th minute to put Morocco on the lead and in the 87th minute Gessime Yassine who scored against Spain in the 2-0 victory pounced on a pass from Boumassaoudi to put icing on the cake for a night to pop up French wine for a victory party.
VAR confirmed a yellow card for Own Goal Boy, Wynder in 90+1 minute in a night that the Yankees will wonder who bewitched them after their 14-7 shots at goal both having 3 shots on target; dominating expressly with 73-27% ball control; with a hefty 573-215 passes almost leaving the Moroccans stranded on the pitch; and a hopeless lack of set pieces utilization of 12-3 corner kicks advantage.
The American defence was weak making 19-33 clearances and 2-6 interceptions when the Moroccans are on the loose.
The Atlas Lions are on standby now for a clash with winner of Norway versus France which will be played at midnight of Sunday just under an hour to go.
Cover photo is Morocco celebrating victory after the final whistle.
Both teams met twice in friendly matches played this 2025 as Morocco lost 0-1 on 7th September after USA had drubbed them 4-1 on the 5th of September both matches to prepare for the Chile Championship.
The Yankees emerged the highest scoring team of the tournament with a 9-1 slaughtering of debutantes New Caledonia; humbled France 3-0 and narrowly defeated South Africa 2-1 at the group stages before humiliating Italy 3-0 at the Round of 16 games.
The Atlas Lions humbled world football power, Spain to signal they are a formidable force from Africa; beat another super power nation, the Samba Boys of Brazil 2-1 and surprisingly lost to Mexico 0-1 at the group stages before locking down High Tech Red Devils of South Korea 2-1 in the Round of 16 games.
USA was making her 18th appearances at the tournament with only one podium finish in 1989 when they lost the Bronze to hosts Saudi Arabia 0-2.
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Morocco is at the Mundial for the 3rd time and finished 4th at Netherlands 2005 when they lost the Bronze to Brazil 1-2 after bowing to Nigeria in the semifinal.
Colombia had earlier in the night shocked soccer giants Spain in a quarterfinal encounter to zoom into the semifinal.
Today, Sunday at 9pm still Nigeria time, Africa’s surviving team, Atlas Lions will test jungle might against high scoring Yankees of USA at Teniente while at midnight of Sunday it shall be Norway versus France.
Argentina will now meet Colombia in the semifinal on Wednesday at midnight at Santiago while another semifinal will feature Morocco versus Norway/France at 9pm at Velparaiso.
Third place match is on Saturday at 8pm while the final is on Sunday at midnight Nigerian time.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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#NFF #UAF #CFA #IFA.
