With a fervent fan base creating a home-field atmosphere, Morocco presents itself as Spain's last challenge on the road to a medal.
In the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics men's football tournament, Morocco stunned the United States with an impressive 4-0 victory, advancing forcefully to the semi-finals. They will face Spain, becoming the last obstacle on Spain's path to the medals.
Morocco is undoubtedly the dark horse of this Olympics. In the semi-finals, they will engage in a fierce contest against Spain, posing the final challenge on Spain's road to championship.
Morocco has shown significant dominance at the Paris Olympics, not only due to their excellent football skills but also bolstered by the passionate support of thousands of fans. Wherever they play, Moroccan supporters create a home-like atmosphere, cheering fervently for their team. During the group stage match against Argentina, fan enthusiasm even caused a temporary halt in the game, as some fans excitedly entered the field, resulting in a several-hour delay until order was restored.
Morocco, the U23 Africa Cup of Nations champions, boasts several players who were part of the championship-winning squad, such as Abd and Ilyas Akhmadz, who respectively play for Real Betis and Villarreal in La Liga, demonstrating outstanding performances. Al-Hanus, also a member of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations winning team, currently plays for Genk in Belgium and has attracted attention from Leipzig, forming a core attacking midfield alongside Abd.
Star players in the Moroccan team include two overage players - forward Rahimi, a key player in Al-Ain's victory in the AFC Champions League, has already scored 5 goals in this Olympics; and national team flag bearer Ashraf Hakimi, renowned for his impressive breakthrough abilities on the wing, receiving a hero's welcome whether in Paris or other cities in France.
Goalkeeper Munir, who previously played for Malaga and Numancia, is another overage player in the Moroccan team. Like Hakimi and Ilyas, he holds Spanish nationality. While many players in the Moroccan team were born in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, they have chosen to represent Morocco, reflecting the active recruitment of overseas-born players by the Moroccan Football Federation in recent years. Among them, Diaz (Real Madrid) and Saibari (Eindhoven) were born in Spain but could not participate in the Olympics due to club clearance issues.