Dennis Kegengo
October 21, 2025U-20 World Cup: Watford’s Imrân Louza praises Othmane Maamma after Morocco success
U-20 World Cup: Watford’s Imrân Louza praises Othmane Maamma after Morocco success
Morocco national player Imrân Louza has revealed why he is eagerly waiting for Othmane Maamma to return to London Colney after staying up late to watch his countryman win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with Morocco.
The Young Atlas Lions made history by clinching their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title, defeating tournament favorites Argentina 2-0 in a final held at the Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium.
Golden moment for Othmane Maamma 🏆
Joining legends like Messi, Maradona, Agüero and Pogba as a U20 World Cup Golden Ball winner 👏 https://t.co/xoId6BgkIv pic.twitter.com/oQaaA8mvd6
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) October 20, 2025
The hero of the night was Yassir Zabiri, Morocco’s rising star, who scored both goals in the first half to seal a monumental victory for the North African nation. He opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a magnificent free-kick, curling the ball beautifully into the top right corner.
How Morocco scored to beat Argentina
Zabiri doubled Morocco’s lead in the 29th minute after a run down the right flank by Maâmma, whose precise cross was met first-time by Zabiri for a finish that made it 2-0. It was an incredibly special night for the young Hornets winger whose superb individual displays saw him awarded the tournament’s golden ball.
‘I can’t wait to see him’
“I can’t wait to see him!” Louza said to watfordfc.com. “I consider him like a little brother, I’m so happy for him. “I spoke to him before the game. I called him during the day and he was a bit stressed – he was excited. I said to him ‘just enjoy the moment, don’t regret anything and you have got it and you’re going to make it.”
Speaking on Maamma’s overall display at the tournament, which claimed his fourth assist of the tournament on his way to winning the Golden Ball – the prize for the best player in the competition, he said: “He was top,” he said, adding: “He helped the team. They were low in the game, and he kept the ball well and got an assist. He’s a big character. I want him to come back and help the team to do well here.”
On Morocco becoming the second African team to have won the showcase competition, he said: “It is very good for Morocco. The environment and everything is going up.
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) October 20, 2025
“It is growing, and they are making all the small things easier for everyone, even for the young lads. They have a very good generation and very good players, and they have the answer with the World Cup.
“When I watched the game there were two different teams. You can see the difference between them and Argentina, who were a bit younger and didn’t understand the game like Morocco did. All of the team did amazing.”
Maamma joined an elite company having won the Golden Ball, with Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Paul Pogba among past winners of the award.