Spanish Media: With Home Advantage, Morocco is the Last Hurdle for Spain’s Medal Hopes

In the quarterfinals of the men’s football tournament at the Paris Olympics, Morocco stunned the United States with a 4-0 victory, advancing powerfully to the semifinals. They will now face Spain, becoming the final obstacle in their path to a medal.

According to AS newspaper, Morocco has undoubtedly been the dark horse of this Olympic Games. In the semifinal clash against Spain, they will pose the last challenge on Spain’s road to the title.

Morocco has demonstrated significant advantages at the Paris Olympics, not only through their impressive skills but also due to the passionate support of thousands of fans. Regardless of the stadium, Moroccan supporters have created a home-like atmosphere, cheering on their team. During the group stage match against Argentina, the enthusiasm of the fans even caused a suspension of play as some excitedly jumped onto the pitch, resulting in a delay lasting several hours until order was restored.

Morocco is the champion of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, and several players from that winning squad are part of the current team, such as Abd and Ilias Akhmouch, who play for LaLiga teams Betis and Villarreal respectively, both performing notably. Al Hanous, another member of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, currently plays for Belgian club Genk and is on the radar of Leipzig. He and Abd form the attacking core of Morocco’s midfield.

Star players in the Moroccan team include two overage players – forward Rahimi and national icon Achraf Hakimi. Rahimi played a crucial role in Al Ain’s AFC Champions League triumph and has scored five goals in the current Olympics. Hakimi’s dribbling ability on the flanks is impressive, and he has received a home-like reception whether in Paris or other French cities.

Goalkeeper Munir, who previously played for Malaga and Numancia, is another overage player in the Moroccan squad, sharing Spanish nationality with Hakimi and Ilias. Many players in the Moroccan team were born in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, but they chose to represent Morocco, a result of the Moroccan Football Federation’s active recruitment of players born overseas in recent years. Among them, Díaz (Real Madrid) and Saiyabi (PSV Eindhoven), both born in Spain, were unable to participate in the Olympics due to their clubs not releasing them.