Morocco’s Magical Run Continues at the Paris Olympics
The Moroccan men’s football team is thrilled to have reached the semi-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics, emulating their impressive performance at the 2022 World Cup two years ago. After defeating the United States in the quarter-finals, Morocco will face Spain this Monday, full of hope to reach the final.
Captain Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, has made it clear that the team’s sole goal is to win the gold medal. A place in the final would be special for Hakimi, as he would get to play at his home stadium, the Parc des Princes, if Morocco were to qualify.
The Moroccan team has received immense support from the French population, with a large Moroccan community in the country. Fans filled the Parc des Princes during the victory against the Americans and are expected to do the same for the semi-final in Marseille, a city with deep ties to North Africa.
However, the support has sometimes crossed the line, as seen when fans invaded the pitch and threw bottles during Morocco’s 2-1 win over Argentina in the group stage. Despite this, Hakimi remains grateful for the fervent support, saying, "The fans follow us wherever we go. Let’s hope it continues like this until the end of the tournament. We are here to make them proud of us."
Morocco’s impressive run is not limited to their domestic support. In 2022, the team’s fans lit up the Qatar World Cup, uniting fans across the region as the first Arab and African team to qualify for the semi-finals and ultimately take fourth place.
For this competition, Morocco has selected the top scorer of the tournament, Soufiane Rahimi. The 28-year-old forward has scored five goals and plays for club side Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. Rahimi’s selection has certainly paid off, and the forward has the ability to play in one of Europe’s top leagues, according to Morocco coach Sektioui.
