Historic milestone for Africa: Morocco and Egypt reach Paris 2024 Olympic Games semi-finals
In a historic first for African football, Morocco and Egypt have both secured spots in the semi-finals of the men’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Their remarkable performances have set the stage for an exciting showdown in the final four.
Morocco Overwhelms USA to Advance
Morocco’s football team delivered a dominant performance, defeating the USA 4-0 in their quarter-final clash at the Parc des Princes. Captain Achraf Hakimi was among the scorers as Morocco showcased their strength and skill, leaving the American team with little chance of recovery.
Soufiane Rahimi opened the scoring for Morocco with a penalty just before the half-hour mark, following a foul by Nathan Harriel. The lead was extended in the second half as Ilias Akhomach and Hakimi added further goals. Mehdi Maouhoub wrapped up the victory with another penalty in stoppage time after a VAR review.
Morocco’s impressive victory comes after they topped their group ahead of Argentina, solidifying their position as serious gold medal contenders. They will face either Japan or Spain in the semi-finals, which will be held in Marseille on Monday.
Egypt Triumphs Over Paraguay in Penalty Shoot-Out
Egypt’s journey to the semi-finals was equally dramatic, as they edged out Paraguay 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out. Ibrahim Adel emerged as the hero, scoring a late equalizer in regular time and then converting the winning penalty in the shoot-out.
Paraguay took the lead in the 71st minute through Diego Gómez, but Adel’s header in the 88th minute sent the match into extra time. The shoot-out saw a tense battle, with Marcelo Pérez missing his penalty for Paraguay. Hamza Alaa’s brilliant save and Adel’s final kick secured Egypt’s place in the last four.
Egypt will now face hosts France in Lyon on Monday evening, while Morocco will meet Spain in the other semi-final in Marseille.
Historic African Achievement
This is the first time two African nations have reached the semi-finals of the men’s Olympic football tournament, marking a significant milestone for African football. Morocco and Egypt’s achievements are a testament to the growing strength of African teams on the global stage.
The semi-final matchups promise to be thrilling as Morocco and Egypt continue their quest for Olympic glory.
