Africa is guaranteed of a medal at the football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics after Morocco and Egypt secured semi-final spots at the tournament on Friday.
An All-African final, the first ever in the history of the Olympic football, is still on the cards if Morocco beats Spain, and Egypt edges France in the semi-finals matches on Monday (today).
Morocco made it through to the semi-final on Friday with a comprehensive 4-0 win over the USA at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.
Egypt followed suit in Bordeaux but had to battle to secure a penalties shootout win against Paraguay, after a 1-1 scoreline at the end of extra time.
Morocco’s Atlas Lions will play Spain in Marseille for a place in the final, and the Pharaohs of Egypt will slug it out against hosts France, led by coach Thierry Henry, in Lyon.
Spain beat Japan 3-0, while France defeated Argentina 1-0 to reach the semi-finals.
The last time Spain faced an African team in an Olympic semi-final was in Barcelona 1992, where they defeated Ghana enroute to winning gold. The Ghanaian team won bronze at the same event.
Nigeria (Atlanta 1996) and Cameroon (Sydney 2000) are the only two African teams to have won gold at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.
