The Atlas Cubs, led by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, are benefiting from talents such as Dunkerque’s Gessime Yassine (Ligue 2) and the collective discipline fostered during training camps at the Mohammed VI complex, the newspaper notes in an article titled “With the gem Gessime Yassine, Morocco captivates at the U20 World Cup.”
The article points out that this team is enhanced by the 19-year-old talent who, already behind a pass and goal against Spain (2-0) in the first group stage fixture on Sunday evening, once again standing out with two decisive assists Thursday in Santiago against Brazil (2-1), securing qualification for the round of 16 of the competition.
Supported by promising players such as Othmane Maamma (Watford, trained and launched as a pro at Montpellier), the Dunkirk winger “is lifting the Atlas Cubs up,” the article continues.
Yassine Guessime cut his teeth at Istres before landing in Dunkirk in early 2024, “bringing his joie de vivre, creativity, subtle touches and dribbling freedom to the northern team,” the specialist publication notes.
L’Equipe, quoting an expert, sees the most impressive aspect of the Moroccan team “is that they’re like a team made of clubs. Every run is made at 110%, as in December 2022 with the A team in Qatar. They manage to bring out something very strong collectively. They have incredible chemistry; it’s as if they’ve been playing together for six months, all the time, every day. It makes for an incredible difference compared to other teams.”
The Mohammed VI complex in Salé, inaugurated in 2019, offers sumptuous working conditions for all youth teams, the author of the article points out, noting that former senior internationals such as Noureddine Naybet, Nabil Baha, and Tarik Sektioui coach teams of the best local and dual nationals spotted at an early age.
In 2025, Morocco’s U20 team reached the U-20 AFCON finals, ranking second to South Africa following penalties. The U17 team made history this year by winning the AFCON against Mali at home, the outlet recalls, noting that the U23 team secured the 2023 AFCON and that Morocco’s talents shone bright at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
Editorial team/le7tv