Moroccan football is currently experiencing a significant moment. The men’s team, who were surprising semifinalists at the World Cup two years ago, have once again achieved the same feat at the Paris Olympics. In the quarterfinals, Morocco defeated the United States with a resounding 4-0 victory and will now face Spain on Monday for a chance to reach the final.
Captain of the Moroccan team, Achraf Hakimi, has stated that his main goal is to win a gold medal during the tournament. This would be a particularly special achievement for Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and would have the opportunity to compete at his home stadium, Parc des Princes, if the team advances.
However, the support for the Moroccan team has been evident throughout the tournament, with a large number of Moroccan fans present in France. This was especially apparent in their match against the United States, where the stadium was filled with Moroccan supporters. The same is expected for their upcoming semifinal match in Marseille, a city with strong North African connections. Hakimi has expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support from the fans and hopes to continue making them proud until the end of the tournament. However, this support has sometimes crossed the line, such as when fans disrupted the game against Argentina by rushing onto the field and throwing bottles.
Despite this, the Moroccan team has continued to make history, becoming the first Arab and African team to reach the semifinals at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. While they were unable to replicate this success at the 2021 African Cup of Nations, they did manage to win the Under-23 version of the tournament, which secured their qualification for the Olympics and showcased the depth of talent in the team.
Morocco has made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time at this tournament and has a chance to win a medal. Their impressive start to the tournament with a victory against Argentina has shown their determination to make their country proud. As coach Tarik Sektioui stated, the team has worked hard to prove that Moroccan players and coaches can compete on a global level with their skills and mentality.
Their next goal is to defeat Spain, the team that shocked the world by eliminating them from the last World Cup, and secure a spot in the final against either France or Egypt. Spain, who won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and has been a runner-up on three other occasions, is currently experiencing a golden period in football with their men’s team winning the European Championship and their women’s team being crowned world champions. Both teams have also reached the semifinals at the Olympics.
If Morocco wins, it will largely be due to the impressive performance of their top scorer, Soufiane Rahimi. The 28-year-old striker was one of the overage players selected by Sektioui for the Olympic tournament and has already scored five goals. Rahimi, who plays for Al Ain in United Arab Emirates, was the top scorer in last season’s Asian Champions League, where his team eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the quarterfinals. Sektioui believes that Rahimi has the potential to play in one of Europe’s top leagues, citing his explosive and clever playing style and goal scoring abilities.
In the other semifinal match, host nation France will face Egypt in Lyon. France, who has only won Olympic gold once at Los Angeles 1984, is hoping to end a 40-year drought in the men’s soccer event. Egypt, who has reached the semifinals twice before but has never won a medal, will also be looking to make history. If both Morocco and Egypt win, it will be the first all-African final in Olympic men’s soccer.
