Africa’s hopes of following up on Olympic football gold from the 1996 Atlanta Games and Sydney 2000 evaporated into thin air when Morocco and Egypt went down fighting in Monday night’s semifinals.
The tournament’s outstanding players were central to the north African demise on a day that promised so much and delivered so little.
Talismanic Spanish star Fermin Lopez enhanced his burgeoning reputation by netting the equaliser, then creating the winning goal for substitute Juanlu Lopez as Santi Denia’s young La Roja lived up to their pre-tournament high billing by cancelling out six goal top scorer Soufiane Rahimi’s first half penalty to win 2-1.
Spain’s opponents in Friday’s final are bookmakers favourites France who conceded their first goal at Paris 2024 but advanced 3-1 at Egypt’s expense in extra time thanks to a brace from effervescent Crystal Palace player of the year Jean Philippe Mateta who netted an 83rd minute leveller, then Les Bleus’ go ahead goal off a Michael Olise pass.
RELATED STORIES
Bayern Munich’s £60m recruit Olise then put icing on coach Thierry Henry’s cake as Les Bleus qualified for their first final since winning football gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Tarik Sektiou’s Atlas Lions will face Mario Micale Rogerio’s Pharaohs in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
Olympic Games football action continues today with record four time women’s champions United States of America battling Germany at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon before Brazil, who are seeking their first ever Olympic gold face World Cup winners Spain at Stade Orange Velodrome in Marseille.
RESULTS
Spain 2-1 Morocco,
France 1-1 Egypt (3-1AET)
TODAY
USA Women v Germany Women,
Brazil Women v Spain Women
