Egypt Daily News – The Arab teams have made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by securing at least one medal in the men’s football competition, thanks to the successful qualification of Egypt and Morocco for the semi-finals. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as it guarantees that one of the two teams will bring home a medal, irrespective of the outcomes in the semi-finals.
Egypt and Morocco’s paths to the semi-finals have been impressive. Egypt advanced after a thrilling quarter-final match against Paraguay, which ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to a tense penalty shootout that they won. The Egyptian team showcased resilience, especially with a last-minute equalizer scored by Ibrahim Adel that kept their hopes alive.
On the other hand, Morocco delivered a dominant performance against the United States, winning decisively with a 4-0 scoreline. The goals came from a stellar team effort, with notable contributions from players like Sofiane Rahimi and Ashraf Hakimi.
With three Arab teams entering the tournament, Iraq was unable to progress past the group stages. However, the success of Egypt and Morocco highlights the growing strength and competitiveness of Arab nations in international football.
Both teams’ classifications as group winners—Egypt claiming the top spot in their group ahead of Spain, Uzbekistan, and the Dominican Republic, and Morocco leading their group against Iraq, Ukraine, and Argentina—further underline their impressive performances throughout the tournament.
As they look ahead to the semi-finals, both Egypt and Morocco have the chance not only to compete for gold but also to potentially secure multiple medals, depending on their performance in the upcoming matches. Regardless of the outcomes, their achievements have already made a significant mark on Olympic football history.