Atlas Lions Roar to Historic Olympic Bronze

The Atlas Lions, led by the unstoppable Soufiane Rahimi, delivered a masterclass in football that left Egypt utterly overwhelmed and their fans speechless at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

Rahimi, the tournament’s top scorer, added two more goals to his already impressive tally, bringing his total to an astonishing eight goals throughout the Games. In doing so, he became the first player in Olympic football history to score in six consecutive matches.

Morocco set the tone early, with Abde Ezzalzouli breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute with a magnificent curling shot from the edge of the box. Just three minutes later, Rahimi doubled the lead, heading home a precise cross and putting Morocco firmly in control.

Any hope Egypt had of a comeback was quickly dashed as Morocco continued their relentless assault after the break. Bilal El Khannouss made it 3-0 in the 51st minute with a low, driven shot past Hamza Alaa, before Rahimi netted his second goal of the match to extend the lead to 4-0 just after the hour mark.

The Atlas Lions refused to ease off, with Akram Nakach adding to the tally by tapping in from close range after a generous assist from Rahimi. Captain Achraf Hakimi put the icing on the cake, delivering a breathtaking free-kick into the top corner in the closing minutes.

This resounding victory marked a significant turnaround for Morocco, who had narrowly missed out on a spot in the gold medal match after a heartbreaking last-minute loss to Spain in the semi-finals. The bronze medal, Morocco’s first-ever Olympic football accolade, is a historic achievement celebrated not just by the team but by the entire African continent.

Rahimi, the tournament’s standout star, expressed his joy after the match, saying, “This is a dream come true for us. We promised our people that we would win a medal, and we have delivered. This is a historic moment for Moroccan and African football.”

As the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament comes to a close, Morocco can take pride in their groundbreaking success, forever engraving their name in the history of Olympic and African football. This win culminates a historic successful period for Moroccan football having qualified in 2022 to the Semi final for the first time for an African team.