Morocco bids farewell to World Youth Championship, head high

The Moroccan soccer youth team (U-20) bade farewell on Tuesday to FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005, head high after a historical adventure that halted at semis checkpoint after a defeat 3-0 to Nigeria.

Moroccans started well and imposed their quick-passing game with an artistic combination of sumptuous football. Iajour, Bendamou and Lazhar athletic sprints and technical dribbles shook the Nigerian defence and vibrated the Kerkrade stadium benches.

The absence of Morocco's midfielder Adil Hermach weighed high as Nigerians exploited the large spaces in the midfield to reach Bourkadi's nets and fired several shots. 34 minutes into the first half, Nigeria's left back Taye Taiwo fired a 25-yard kick to open the scoring.

At the second half, Moroccans were physically unable to pace up Nigerians, who exploited a mess in the operations zone to head a ball in the Moroccan nets at the 70th minute by Adefemi. Five minutes later, Ogbuke added a third goal to put an end to all potential suspense.

Moroccans lost their nerves and were reduced to nine when Iajour and Doulyazal were handed red cards.

"We could have played better than we did today, but the pressure from the fans, the media and everyone back home was just too much for such young players," Morocco's manger noted.

"It is a great deception to fall so close to the final and with a such score, while players had an excellent adventure and made an important exploit," he concluded.

The Moroccan team's adventure is not over yet, as they will take on Brazil for a third position on Saturday.

It is the first time the Moroccan soccer youth team (U-20) has reached the last four leg of the world championship.

It is their third participation in the FIFA World Youth Championship. They had been knocked out from the first round in Tunisia 1977 before they reached the second round in Malaysia in 1997.