Morocco and Egypt will play in the All-Africa third-place match at the Paris Olympics football event after both teams lost in their semifinal matches against Spain and France respectively. on Monday evening.
It ended the possibility of an All-Africa final and another Olympic men’s football gold for the continent.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco lost 2-1 to Spain in a thrilling semi-final played at the Stade de Marseille on Monday. The Spaniard came from a goal down to win the tie and break Moroccans hearts.
Egypt’s Pharaohs lost 3-1 to France after extra time at the Stade de Lyon. Like Morocco, the Pharaohs also took the lead before succumbing to the flair and resilience of the Thiery Henry led French team. Also, Egypt’s Omar Fayed was given a red card with two minutes into the additional period, leaving his team to play with ten men for most of extra time.
Morocco will now play Egypt in the third-place match, a chance for both countries to win their first ever Olympics men’s football medal, and Africa’s second men’s football bronze at the Games.
Ghana won bronze at the Barcelona ’92 Olympics.
Nigeria and Cameroon are the only two African teams to have won gold at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Games respectively.
