July 05, (THEWILL) – Morocco’s Under-23 national team became the second African nation to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, following an electrifying encounter against Mali in the TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations.
The thrilling match, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, ended in a 2-2 draw in regular time, leading to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Morocco emerged triumphant with a 4-3 victory in the shootout, igniting exuberant celebrations among the home crowd.
Zakaria El Quahdi’s opening goal in the 14th minute set the tone for Morocco’s initial dominance, but Mali, led by the inspiring Mamady Diambou, exhibited resilience and grew in confidence throughout the match. Diambou’s equaliser in the 66th minute brought the teams level. With no resolution in regulation time, the game was extended by an additional 30 minutes.
Amine El Quazzani’s strike in the 108th minute saw Morocco take the lead once again, but Mali fought back, and Issoufi Maiga’s header in the 116th minute levelled the score at 2-2. The thrilling encounter was finally decided in a penalty shootout, where Morocco’s composed performance saw them convert all four of their penalties, while Mali faltered with misses from Boubacar Traore and Ahmed Diomande.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Morocco’s Olympic journey, as they now prepare to face defending champions Egypt in the final scheduled for Saturday in Rabat. Meanwhile, Guinea and Mali will vie for the third Paris Olympic slot in the play-off on Friday in Tangier. Morocco’s qualification for the Paris Olympics stands as a testament to their tenacity and determination.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
