Rabat – At 20 years old, Othmane Maamma has already lived the dream of every young footballer. The Moroccan midfielder, who moved from Montpellier to Watford F.C. this summer, was one of the stars of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, helping the Atlas Cubs do something no Moroccan team had ever done before: win a world title.
French show Téléfoot spent a day with him for a special episode called “We spent 24 hours with Othmane Maamma, Morocco’s U20 World Champion.”
Still in shock by what he’d just achieved, Maamma smiled as he showed off his gold medal and said: “I still can’t believe it, but little by little, I’m realizing that we’ve achieved something historic. Honestly, it’s beautiful to see what’s happening. It’s magical.”
And we could hear the disbelief in his voice. Morocco’s U20s went all the way in Santiago, beating Argentina 2–0 at the Estadio Nacional. A few months earlier, they’d lost the AFCON U20 final, and now here they were, world champions.
A World Cup title built on team spirit
The run in Chile had the perfect blend of hard work and joy. Morocco started strong in what many called the “group of death”, beating Spain (2–0) and Brazil (2–1). Maamma was everywhere on the pitch—cool under pressure, sharp on the ball, and always made the right decision. He even scored the winning goal against Spain, made a spectacular bicycle-kick goal against Brazil, and set up a crucial goal in the final against Argentina.
By the end, he’d done enough to be named Golden Ball winner — best player of the tournament — and he wasn’t about to make it about himself. “It’s a team effort,” he said simply.
Morocco’s chemistry was real. They’d grown up together in the Mohammed VI Football Academy, learned the same way, same mentality. It was both talent and connection. Even the reporters from L’Équipe called it “a Moroccan masterclass in teamwork”.
Then came the moment the team went home. “The welcome in Morocco was magical. We had messages and news reaching us from back home, but once we arrived in Morocco, it was magical. Unforgettable.”
Thousands were in the streets, waving flags and singing. For a country that’s already fallen back in love with football since the 2022 World Cup, this also felt like a glimpse of the future. It felt like a promise of what was to come.
Back in Europe, Maamma’s learning to cope with the grind of club football in England. Watford may not be the glamour move yet, but it’s certainly where young players grow up quickly, which is good for him at this moment.
For someone who went from AFCON heartbreak to world champion in a matter of months, Othmane Maama carries himself like someone who has seen both sides of football already. Calm: grounded and thankful.
