Morocco’s Young Lions Roar: Dual-Nationality Stars Lead Historic World Cup Run

Five players born in France are among the Atlas Lions who will face Argentina in the night from Sunday to Monday in the final of the U-20 World Cup in Chile, reports L’Équipe. One of them is named Yanis Benchaouch. Born in Périgueux, he is the goalkeeper of the Moroccan team. He has notably played for Trélissac and is a member of AS Monaco. In 2021, the ASM Academy recruited him. He won the Coupe Gambardella during the 2022-2023 season, with the U18 group.

Ibrahim Gomis, 20 years old, is also a goalkeeper for the Moroccan U20 team. Born in Perpignan to a Senegalese father and a Moroccan mother, he played for CS Amphion-Publier (Haute-Savoie), Thonon Evian Grand Genève FC and Dijon before joining Olympique de Marseille (OM) in 2023. This 2-meter-tall goalkeeper will be the starter in goal against Argentina, reports Le Dauphiné libéré.

Midfielder Naim Byar, a former French youth international, is also part of the Moroccan team. He was born in Reims. The 20-year-old striker won the U17 Euro in 2022, alongside Mathis Tel, Warren Zaïre-Emery or Désiré Doué. He joined the Atlas Lions in 2023. His compatriot Othmane Maamma, 20 years old, was born in Alès. He is the Moroccan revelation of the U20 World Cup: high-level performances and exceptional technical gestures. He should be seen in the first team soon.

The fifth player is Gessime Yassine. The 19-year-old striker was born in Salon-de-Provence. He shines with the Moroccan U20 team to the point of interesting clubs such as Mainz, Hoffenheim, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Bremen and Leipzig, who are closely following the young prodigy, as well as Chelsea in the English Premier League, reports the German newspaper Bild. For now, he plays for USL Dunkerque (Ligue 2). He has scored six goals and provided six assists in 64 games in all competitions.