Morocco’s bronze medal at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games cements Morocco’s status as a football powerhouse and is a massive achievement for African football, the African Union said.
“Morocco made history at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games,” the AU wrote in a message posted on X.
“The Atlas Lions are Olympic bronze medalists! This win cements Morocco’s status as a football powerhouse and is a massive achievement for African football,” the AU said in a message complemented by photos of the players celebrating their achievement adorned with the Moroccan flag.
“With this momentum, hosting the World Cup in 2030 looks even more promising,” said the African Union.
FIFA, CAF, as well as the international media, including TV channels, newspapers, and news websites have hailed the Moroccan Olympic team’s performance and congratulated Morocco on winning its first Olympic bronze medal in team sports after a dramatic 6-0 victory over Egypt in the placement game.
In a post on Instagram, FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Morocco’s achievement, saying the bronze medal is a significant accomplishment. “Sincere congratulations to Morocco for the bronze medal during the Paris 2024 men’s football tournament, marking its first podium finish at the Olympic Games. This is an achievement of which you can be very proud. You have brought joy to your supporters in Morocco and around the world,” he stated in his post.
For the African Football Confederation (CAF) Morocco’s bronze medal, the country’s first Olympic achievement in football, will be celebrated as a victory not only for the team but also for the entire African continent. This is a historic moment for Moroccan and African football.
“As the curtain falls on the men’s Olympic football tournament, Morocco can take pride in its historic feat, knowing it has etched its name in the annals of Olympic and African football history,” CAF said on its wensite.
The international media, including TV channels, newspapers, and news websites have largely commented on the Moroccan Olympic team’s feat with a 6-0 thrashing over Egypt. Morocco asserted itself as the major powerhouse in African football, wrote several international media, underlining that Morocco made history by winning bronze in men’s football at the Paris Olympic Games.
“All credit to Morocco. They were incredible in front of goal. They had a very high percentage in terms of their finishing. For us, it wasn’t to be today,” Egypt coach Rogerio Micale, who coached Brazil to the gold medal on home soil at the 2016 Games, was quoted as saying.
Morocco has been inspired throughout the tournament by its senior men’s team, which was a surprise semifinalist at the World Cup in 2022. The players have also been boosted by the faithful fans who have followed the team on its journey in France, the media noted.
With this “resounding victory,” the Moroccan football team has achieved a great feat, attaining its goal of winning an Olympic medal for the first time, Spanish sports daily “AS” wrote in an article titled “Morocco Becomes an African Football Giant.”
With this, the Moroccan team confirms that it is “going through a great moment, thanks to a very solid project that yielded good results,” the newspaper added.
The Moroccan team had also trounced the United States 4-0 at Parc des Princes in Paris in the quarterfinals but then lost to Spain 2-1 in the semifinals.
In its celebration of the various achievements of African champions at the Paris Olympics, the AU also paid tribute to Moroccan Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali who grabbed a gold medal in the 3,000 m steeplechase at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games.
In a message on X, the AU praised the Moroccan star’s performance, who became the first athlete to retain his Olympic title since Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo (1932 and 1936 Olympics).
The African Union is “celebrating Moroccan star Soufiane El Bakkali, who delivered a historic performance to become the first man to successfully defend his 3000 m steeplechase title since 1936”, reads the message, illustrated by a picture of El Bakkali celebrating his victory adorned with the national flag.
Reigning double Olympic and world champion, El Bakkali won the 3,000 m steeplechase final, clocking 08:06.