Morocco making waves with polished play and fervent fans at Olympics. Spain awaits in soccer semis

LYON, France (AP) — Moroccan soccer is having a moment.

Surprise semifinalists at the World Cup two years ago, the men’s team has emulated that achievement at the Paris Olympics.

Morocco routed the United States 4-0 in the quarterfinals and plays Spain on Monday for the chance to reach the final.

“I have one goal here, which is to win the medal,” Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said, referring to gold.

A place in the final would be extra special for Hakimi, who plays his club soccer for Paris Saint-Germain, and would compete at his home stadium, Parc des Princes, if Morocco advances.

Then again, most Morocco matches have felt like home games for the team, given the fervent support it has enjoyed in France, which has a large Moroccan population. Moroccan fans packed Parc des Princes for the victory over the Americans.

It will be the same again for the semifinal in Marseille, France’s oldest city, which has deep North African connections.

“The fans follow us everywhere we go. Let’s hope it continues like this until the end of the tournament. We are here to make them feel proud of us,” Hakimi said.

That support has overstepped the mark at the Games when fans rushed the field and threw bottles in Morocco’s 2-1 win over Argentina in the group phase and caused the game to be suspended for around two hours.

Against the U.S., fans were warned by the stadium announcer not to light flares after several were set off following Morocco’s first goal.

Morocco’s supporters lit up the Qatar World Cup in 2022 in a different way — uniting many fans in the region as the first Arab and African team to advance to the semifinals — eventually taking fourth place.

It couldn’t follow that success at this year’s African Cup of Nations — being eliminated by South Africa in the round of 16 — but it did win the Under-23 version of the tournament to qualify for the Olympics and showcase its depth of talent.

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At these games, the Moroccans have advanced to the semifinals for the first time and has the chance to medal. The win against Argentina started its tournament off with a bang.

“We are a proud, proud country. We love our country,” Morocco coach Tarik Sektioui said. “We all love to be Moroccan and, it’s (taken) a lot of work. We as coaches or players are determined to improve and (show) to everybody that Moroccan players can be world players and the Moroccan coach can be also a good, world, coach. It’s just a question of work and mentality.”

Morocco’s senior team shocked Spain by eliminating it from the last World Cup and its Olympic team is aiming to emulate that feat and secure a place in the final against France or Egypt.

Spain won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and has taken silver on three other occasions, including the last Games in Tokyo when it lost to Brazil in the final.

Spanish soccer is also enjoying a boom period after the men won the European Championship this summer and the women were crowned world champion last year.

Both the men’s and women’s teams are into the semifinals at the Olympics.

If Morocco wins, it could be down to the tournament’s leading scorer Soufiane Rahimi.

The 28-year-old striker was one of Sektioui’s overage picks. The Olympic men’s tournament is restricted to under 23s with the exception of three overage players.

Rahimi’s selection has certainly paid off, with the forward scoring five goals so far.

Rahimi plays his club soccer for Al Ain in United Arab Emirates and won the Asian Champions League last season when he was top scorer with 13 goals. Al Ain eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the quarterfinals.

Sektioui believes Rahimi has the ability to play in one of Europe’s top leagues.

“Last year he was one of the best strikers in Asia and won the Asian Cup (Champions League). That means everything,” the Morocco coach said. “He has everything... he’s explosive, he’s clever, he can score.”

France vs. Egypt

Also Monday, host nation France plays Egypt in Lyon and is looking to end a 40-year wait for Olympic gold in the men’s soccer.

France’s only gold came at Los Angeles 1984.

This is Egypt’s third time in the semifinals having has twice finished in fourth place — at Amsterdam 1928 and Tokyo 1964.

If Egypt and Morocco both win it would set up the first all-African final in Olympic men’s soccer.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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