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Moroccan goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch had to leave the pitch with an injury during the World Cup U20 semi-final against France. Despite this, the team celebrated a historic 5-4 penalty shootout win after a 1-1 draw.
“I can’t bend my leg right now, we’ll do tests later… but the important thing is the win,” Benchaaouch said after the match. He made several key saves before leaving the game.
بالشفاء العاجل يارب العالمين لولدنا يانيس بن شاوش
Get well soon soon Yanis Benchaouch#DimaMaghrib #ديما_مغرب #كأس_العالم_تحت_20_سنة pic.twitter.com/MM8npsQfvr— Moroccan (@oneMorocco) October 16, 2025
Benchaouch thanked his teammates and coach: “I want to thank Ibrahim Gomis and Abdelhakim Mesbahi because without them, we wouldn’t have won this match. It shows that in Morocco, we have excellent goalkeepers, whether they’re on the bench or not. Thanks to Bagui (Abdelillah Bagui, goalkeeping coach), because it’s thanks to him that we’ve reached this level,” he told Arryadia TV.
Espérons que la blessure de notre Champion 🇲🇦, Yanis Benchaouch , sera pas grave.🤲
On a besoin de toute nos cartes pour la Finale Inshaa Allah 💪🇲🇦❤️pic.twitter.com/KcudxehVlB
— Moroccan Foot Talents (@Moroccanfoot94) October 16, 2025
The Moroccan keeper is now doubtful for the grand final against Argentina. The AS Monaco shot-stopper will learn if he can take part in the coming hours.
Hakim Mesbahi, the hero of the shootout who saved the final penalty against France, or Ibrahim Gomis could step in if Benchaaouch is unable to play in the final.
🔴 𝗘𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗦, 𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗘̀𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘 🥹 pic.twitter.com/6RYDvSvclk
— Vibes Foot (@VibesFoot) October 15, 2025
Midfielder Naïm Biar described the victory as “amazing, unbelievable” and said the team hopes to win the final for Morocco and its supporters.
Abdel Latif Moktarid, head of the Moroccan delegation, said: “Morocco is now among the world’s top youth teams. This is the result of King Mohammed VI’s vision and Fouzi Lekjaa’s work.”
Morocco beat France in the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw that went to penalties. Gaby Beyuku hit the post for France, Mohammed Hamony missed the fourth kick, and goalkeeper Hakim Mesbahi saved Djylian N’Guessan’s shot to send Morocco through to face Argentina on Monday.
Morocco now become only the second Arab nation to reach the tournament’s final, after Qatar in 1981, and will face Argentina in the early hours of Monday.
