Egypt and Morocco will lock horns in the first-ever all-African bronze medal match in the football tournament at the Olympics. Neither team has ever won an Olympic medal in football.
By Tuka Letura
Lead, level, lose: this is the trajectory that has placed two North African teams, Egypt and Morocco, in the bronze medal match of the men’s football tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Both teams saw their dreams of gold slip away, falling to European giants, France and Spain, after initially taking the lead. Now, they find themselves vying for their nation’s first-ever Olympic medal in football.
Morocco took an early lead over Spain in the first semi-final, with Soufiane Rahimi scoring a penalty after Pablo Barrios fouled Amir Richardson in the 33rd minute. Fermín López equalised 20 minutes into the second half before providing the assist for Juanlu Sánchez five minutes before the end of normal time, dashing the North Africans’ hopes.
Mahmoud Saber broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, giving the Pharaohs the lead over France and setting them on course for their first-ever Olympic final. However, France’s Jean-Philippe Mateta had other plans. He and Michael Olise combined for the second time in consecutive games, putting the ball past Al Ahly’s Hamza Alaa in goal to level the score after 83 minutes and take the game to extra time.
Having picked up a yellow card for arguing with the referee in the final minutes of regular time, when a French penalty was overturned by VAR, Omar Fayed received another yellow card two minutes into extra time and was sent off.
The gates were open, and despite Rogério Micale’s attempt to tweak things with two substitutions immediately after the red card, Mateta scored again seven minutes later to give France the lead. Egypt’s hopes of reaching the final were dashed completely when Michael Olise scored 10 minutes before the end of extra time, sealing their fate.
Now, Egypt and Morocco will lock horns in the first-ever all-African bronze medal match in the football tournament at the Olympics. Neither team has ever won an Olympic medal in football.
TACTICAL FOOTBALL ANALYSIS
Throughout the tournament, Egypt have relied significantly on their defensive solidity. While France did score three goals against them in the semi-final, it’s worth noting that Egypt conceded only three goals in normal time across five games.
Rogério Micale has predominantly employed a 4-3-3 formation in four of Egypt’s five Olympic fixtures, opting for a 4-1-4-1 setup only in the semi-final against France. It is almost guaranteed that he will return to the winning formation. Mohamed Tarek is likely to come in at centre-back for Omar Fayed, who is suspended after picking up a red card against France.
Predicted XI: Egypt
Hamza Alaa (Goalkeeper); Ahmed Eid, Mohamed Tarek, Hossam Abdelmaguid, and Ahmed Nabil Koka; Mohamed Shehata, Mohamed Elneny (Captain), and Mahmoud Saber; Zizo, Osama Faisal, and Ibrahim Adel.
11 goals in five games hasn’t come without intent. This intent is to keep the opposition on their toes with quick transitions and effective entries into good shooting areas. This strategy also features full-backs Hakimi and Ouahdi joining the attack, with both contributing three goals between them.
El Khannous, who missed the game against Spain due to a suspension for accumulated yellow cards, will return to the starting line-up.
Predicted XI: Morocco
Munir Mohamed (Goalkeeper); Achraf Hakimi, Oussama El Azzouzi, Mehdi Boukamir and Zakaria El Ouahdi; Oussama Targhalline, Amir Richardson and Bilal El Khannous; Ilias Akhomach and Soufiane Rahimi.
Morocco are set up more directly. Tarik Sektioui, the coach, has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the tournament, with El Khannous playing a vital role in their setup.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MOROCCO
Soufiane Rahimi
Soufiane Rahimi is one of Morocco’s three over-aged players registered for this year’s tournament. He has been prolific, finding the back of the net in all of Morocco’s games so far at the Olympics. With six goals, he is already tied with Kwame Ayew for the highest goalscorer for an African nation in men’s football at the Olympics, matching Ayew’s tally from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
Rahimi’s scoring prowess extends beyond penalties, though four of his six goals have come from the spot. His ability to win penalties, demonstrated by earning two of his penalty goals, underscores his knack for creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi, another over-aged player in Morocco’s squad, brings a wealth of experience as the Paris Saint-Germain defender and captain of the Olympic team. Hakimi is no stranger to high-stakes competitions, having played a crucial role in Morocco’s historic World Cup run in 2022, where they became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final.
His experience and leadership have been evident throughout the tournament, whether organising the backline, contributing to attacks, or providing guidance to his teammates. Hakimi’s presence on the field is a significant asset for Morocco.
Amir Richardson
The 22-year-old Stade de Reims midfielder, Amir Richardson, has been a linchpin for Morocco both literally and metaphorically. Partnering with Oussama Targhalline in midfield, Richardson has risen to every challenge, contributing with goals and playing a crucial role in the team’s build-up play. He also won the penalty that was Morocco’s sole goal in their semi-final loss to Spain.
Richardson’s vision and passing ability have been pivotal in orchestrating Morocco’s attacks, while his defensive contributions provide crucial stability in the midfield.
Bilal El Khannous
Bilal El Khannous has been a creative dynamo for Morocco throughout the tournament. Ranking joint-third in chances created (10) and third in big chances created (2), his influence in the attacking phase is significant. His long ball passing accuracy stands at an impressive 77%, the best in the squad.
El Khannous has also provided two vital assists: one in the group stage against Argentina and another in the quarter-finals against the USA. His ability to unlock defences with precise passes and his vision on the field make him a key component of Morocco’s attacking strategy.
EGYPT
Hamza Alaa
Egyptian goalkeeper, Hamza Alaa, has been a standout performer throughout the tournament. With an impressive save percentage of 80%, he ranks second among all goalkeepers still competing, just behind France’s Guillaume Restes. Alaa’s performance is particularly notable for his high save frequency, averaging 4.2 saves per game, which indicates he is frequently called into action.
Beyond his shot-stopping prowess, Alaa has also recorded two clean sheets, the second-most in the tournament. His contributions have been crucial to Egypt’s campaign, and the young Al Ahly keeper will once again be relied upon heading into the bronze medal match.
Ibrahim Adel
Ibrahim Adel has been pivotal for Egypt, scoring three of their five goals in the tournament so far. His goals have come at crucial moments: he netted both goals in their 2-1 victory over Spain and scored the 88th-minute equaliser against Paraguay in the quarter-finals, a crucial strike that led to Egypt winning on penalties.
Adel’s ability to deliver under pressure has been a key factor in Egypt’s campaign. His knack for scoring in critical situations makes him a standout performer and a player to watch in their pursuit of a bronze medal.
Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Elneny has been a central figure for Egypt, providing both defensive solidity and midfield creativity. His experience and composure in the heart of midfield have been invaluable, helping to control the tempo of the game and linking defence with attack.
Elneny’s ability to break up opposition play and distribute the ball effectively has been crucial to Egypt’s tactical approach. As captain, his leadership on the pitch and his knack for maintaining possession under pressure have made him a stabilising force for the team, exemplifying the qualities of the former Arsenal midfielder.
Ahmed Sayed (Zizo)
Ahmed Sayed, known as Zizo, is a key playmaker for Egypt in the tournament. With two assists, he leads his teammates in this regard, providing the setup for two of Ibrahim Adel’s three goals. One assist was for Adel’s equaliser against Paraguay in the quarter-finals, and the other came in the final group game against Spain, also for Adel.
Zizo has been instrumental in creating chances, registering the second-most chances created in the tournament with 16, just behind Michael Olise’s 17. His role in facilitating goal-scoring opportunities has been crucial to Egypt’s performance.
PREDICTION
In what promises to be a tightly contested bronze medal match, Morocco is likely to edge out Egypt with a 2-1 victory in regular time. Morocco’s high-pressing game and creative attacking play are expected to be decisive against Egypt’s traditionally solid defensive setup.
While Egypt is strong defensively and capable of quick counter-attacks, they might find it challenging to break down Morocco’s disciplined backline. The North African rivals are well-matched, but Morocco’s ability to exploit spaces and deliver crucial chances could give them the upper hand. If Morocco secures the win, it would mark Egypt’s third bronze medal match loss, positioning them just behind Italy in terms of the most bronze medal match defeats.
KICK OFF
- Date: Friday 9 August 2024
- Time: 17:00 CAT
- Stadium: Parc des Princes, Paris
Tuka Letura is an experienced sports writer with over five years of experience in the craft. He uses data and statistics to provide analysis and commentary. From regional to worldwide competitions, he has covered a wide range of sports-related events and topics. He is devoted to sharing his enthusiasm for sports with his audience and engaging them with interesting anecdotes and viewpoints.