Morocco secured the bronze medal with a resounding 6-0 victory over Egypt in the Olympic men’s soccer tournament in Nantes on Thursday. Goals from Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss, Akram Nakach, and Achraf Hakimi were crucial to this triumph.
Comeback After Semifinal Defeat
After a 2-1 loss to Spain in the semifinals, Morocco bounced back with the tournament’s largest victory, securing their first-ever spot on the Olympic podium. This bronze medal also marks the country’s first in a team sport.
Manager’s Reflections
“We had to work hard for our victory, and it wasn’t easy. It’s crucial to accept defeat and learn from it, and we were able to come back stronger,” Morocco’s manager Tarik Sektioui told reporters.
“We faced really difficult matches, so it wasn’t easy. The players showed great pride and a strong sense of responsibility.”
Egypt Performance
Egypt suffered their first regular-time loss of the tournament, yet despite the crushing defeat, they equaled their best Olympic performances from 1928 and 1964 with a fourth-place finish.
Key Moments of the Match
After 23 minutes, Ezzalzouli opened the scoring with a superb shot into the top corner. Just three minutes later, Rahimi, the tournament’s top scorer, doubled the lead with a fine header from Ezzalzouli’s cross.
Six minutes into the second half, El Khannouss made it 3-0 with a fantastic low finish after Ezzalzouli’s second assist. Rahimi then scored his eighth Olympic goal to extend the lead to 4-0.
Record-Breaking Performance
The 28-year-old Rahimi set a record for the most goals in an Olympic tournament with six consecutive strikes, surpassing Argentina’s Carlos Tevez, who held the previous record since 2004.
Defender Nakach tapped in Rahimi’s pass, and captain Hakimi sealed the victory with a fantastic free-kick just three minutes from time.
Historic Medal
We are very proud that we earned this medal, we worked very hard and made many sacrifices, Hakimi said. We aimed for gold, but we didn’t reach the finals. However, we demonstrated character and secured a historic medal for Morocco.
“As captain, I’d like to thank our fans, both here and in Morocco.”
Morocco Football Rise
In the 2022 World Cup, Morocco advanced to the semi-finals and finished fourth after eliminating formidable opponents like Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages. Coach Sektioui pointed out that winning a medal was crucial in validating Morocco’s rise in football.
“It shows that Moroccan football is moving on the right path and that we are improving. After our World Cup performance, we must continue to succeed,” he remarked.
Impact on African Football
Hakimi added that it’s not just Morocco, but the entire continent, that is rising in world football.
“We have opened doors not just for our country but for African football as a whole,” said Hakimi, 25. “Today, two African countries fought for third and fourth place. Everyone saw the quality we possess.”
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