Two African representatives at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics Morocco and Egypt have secured their first-ever semi-final berth at the summer games by beating USA and Paraguay respectively.
Egypt came from behind to force penalties before emerging victorious in a 5-4 shootout victory over Paraguay, while Morocco thrashed the United States in a commanding 4-0 victory.
The quarter-final clash, played out under the Parisian lights, remained goalless at halftime, with both sides struggling to break the deadlock.
Paraguay seemed to have struck the decisive blow when Diego Gomez found the net in the 63rd minute, sending their supporters into raptures.
As the clock ticked down, Egypt’s Olympic dream appeared to be slipping away. However, Ibrahim Adel had other ideas.
With just three minutes of regular time remaining, the forward unleashed a crucial strike that breathed new life into Egypt’s campaign and forced the match into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes could not separate the evenly matched sides, setting the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout.
Morocco on the other hand is set to play Spain in Marseille after an emphatic 4-0 triumph over the USA.
The Atlas Lions showcased their attacking prowess and tactical superiority in a match that will long be remembered by fans at the Parc des Princes.
From the opening whistle, Morocco dominated proceedings, with their high-pressing game and swift counterattacks causing constant problems for the American defense.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Soufiane Rahimi converted a penalty, his fifth goal of the tournament, after Nathan Harriel’s clumsy challenge in the box.
The USA struggled to gain a foothold in the match, with Morocco’s midfield trio of Abde Ezzalzouli, Ilias Akhomach, and Amir Richardson controlling the tempo and creating numerous chances.
Akhomach doubled Morocco’s lead in the 63rd minute, finishing off a well-worked move down the left flank.
Seven minutes later, Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi’s sublime solo effort, gliding through midfield unchallenged before finding the bottom corner from outside the box.
As the match entered its final stages, Morocco continued to press, and their efforts were rewarded with a second penalty in stoppage time.
El Mehdi Maouhoub stepped up to convert, putting the finishing touch on a memorable night for Moroccan football.
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