The Atlas Lion Cubs Triumph Over Mali and Soar Toward a Historic Quarter-Final Against Brazil
On a thrilling evening in Doha, the Moroccan U17 national team wrote a new glorious chapter in its history by defeating Mali 3-2 at the end of an exceptionally intense match. With this masterful victory, the Atlas Lion Cubs secured a well-deserved qualification for the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, once again confirming the irresistible rise of Moroccan youth football.
Morocco opened the score thanks to the inevitable Ziyad Baha with a header in the 29th minute. Mali, resilient, did not give up easily: Boubouma reduced the gap with a penalty in the 45+6th minute, but just before half-time, Ilyas El Aoud, true offensive metronome, delivered a second goal for the Kingdom in the 45+11th minute. The same El Aoud, brilliant and determined, sealed the victory with a third splendid goal in the 66th minute. Seydou Dembélé scored a late goal in the 90+4th minute, but it was not enough to overturn Moroccan superiority.
This match will remain one of the most accomplished performances by the Lion Cubs in this World Cup. Tactical intelligence, composure, discipline, character… The young Moroccans showed they already possess the DNA of great teams. Even in the final minutes, when Mali threw everything forward, the national squad displayed an impressive maturity, worthy of the greatest football nations.
With this prestigious success, Morocco moves into the quarter-finals where another global giant awaits: Brazil, winners over France in a penalty shoot-out. A top-level clash that the Lion Cubs approach with ambition, confidence and a firm resolve to continue raising the national flag on the international stage.
Moroccan football has never looked so well-prepared to conquer the future. And this U17 generation could well become one of the symbols of this exceptional momentum.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
