The male football competition at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics is turning out as one of the most memorable football tournaments dedicated to the under-23 teams.
The games kicked off in Paris on Wednesday 24 July 2024 with 16 men’s national sides from the six continental confederations.
The teams include; Argentina, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Guinea, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Morocco, New Zealand, Paraguay, Spain, Ukraine, USA, and Uzbekistan. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four and each group played a round-robin tournament.
At the end of the group stage, the top two teams advanced to the knockout stage. At the quarter-finals, Morrocco defeated USA by 4-0, Spain defeated Japan 3-0, France defeated Argentina 1-0, a match marred by ugly scene, and Egypt defeated Paraguay 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 at regulation time.
The semifinal was more Intriguing, about the biggest highlights of the competition with Spain coming from behind to snatch a late winner against Morrocco while France had to rely on a late goal to tie the game with Egypt until the Egyptians lost their composure and went a man down, allowing France to seal a 3-1 victory in extra time.
The Egyptians in particular can be consoled considering the fact that they have done so for the first time in 60 years.
For Africa, the competition exudes mixed feelings two of its representatives Guinea and Mali were eliminated in the group stage while Morrocco and Egypt fared better, emerging as the surprise teams of the competition carrying the Africa’s touch and getting to the bronze medal match, yet they would have loved to emulate Nigeria and Cameroon who have shown tenacity winning the Olympic football gold in the past.
The gold medal match is scheduled for Paris on the 9th of August 2024 between host country France and 2020 Olympic men football losing finalist Spain.
Expectations are high with the chance to rewrite football history and whoever takes the gold medal would have been a worthy winner. The footballing world awaits the next generation of superstars!
