Rabat – France’s top sports newspaper L’Équipe praised Morocco’s U-20 team after their strong run at the World Cup, pointing to midfielder Gessime Yassine as one of the standout players.
“Morocco is impressive. The Atlas Cubs benefit from the talent of players such as Dunkerque’s Gessime Yassine.” L’Équipe wrote
L’ailier de Dunkerque Gessime Yassine, très performant depuis le début de la Coupe du monde U20 avec la sélection marocaine (2 buts, 3 passes décisives), est suivi de près par Strasbourg
➡️ https://t.co/lgOYu5vFwS pic.twitter.com/fPT9CCUunI— L’Équipe (@lequipe) October 14, 2025
Yassine, 19, plays for USL Dunkerque and has been one of Morocco’s most important players in this tournament.
He was named Man of the Match against Spain and Brazil, with two goals and three assists so far. He also scored the third goal in Morocco’s 3–1 win over the United States in the quarterfinal, helping his team reach the semifinals.
Demba Ba, vice president of USL Dunkerque, the club where Yassine plays, spoke about the player’s passion and unique style:
“I’m not surprised,” confides Demba Ba. “When I saw his eyes full of emotion at the mention of his country, I was convinced he would perform. He has such love for his homeland! He’s a different kind of player, with uncommon technical agility and the ability to wrong-foot his opponents.”
“He kept his natural street football qualities, and the idea is to amplify them, showcase them, and integrate them into a collective framework,” Demba Ba said
L’Équipe has also reported that Ligue 1 club Strasbourg is interested in Morocco U-20 talent Yassine Jassim. According to the same source, Strasbourg is eyeing the 19-year-old,
Yassine began his pro career in January 2024. Since then, he’s played 55 matches in Ligue 2, scored six goals, and made nine assists.
He earned the “Young Talent of the Month” award shortly after debuting. This season, he’s already delivered three assists – one of them against top-ranked Troyes.
Yassine’s performances have caught the eye of scouts from France and Italy. L’Équipe has reported recently that Ligue 1 club Strasbourg is interested in signing Gassim.
Jassim is under contract with Dunkerque until June 2027. He is expected to draw even more attention in the U-20 World Cup semifinal, where the Atlas Cubs will face France in hopes of reaching the final.
