Morocco’s U-23 national football team “rose to the challenge” at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Coach Tarik Sektioui said on Saturday.
Speaking to the press following the team’s arrival in Rabat, Sektioui explained that the team was on a mission to “prove to the world that national football is making progress and continues to strive to improve.”
Morocco’s U-23 Olympic football team made history at the Paris Olympic Games by becoming the first Arab country to win the bronze medal.
Sektioui noted that the prospect of bringing “happiness to Moroccans” greatly motivated the players.
The Atlas Lions captivated audiences with their stellar performance, qualifying for the quarter-finals as the top team in Group B and securing a commanding 4-0 victory over the US on August 2.
“Football in Morocco has seen significant progress in recent years, thanks to the leadership of King Mohammed VI,” Sektioui remarked.
Under King Mohammed VI’s reign, Moroccan football has made substantial strides, including the country’s historic qualification for the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Moroccan coach also expressed his gratitude to the Moroccan audience for their unwavering support. “We have the best audience in the world,” he declared.
In addition to winning the bronze medal, striker Soufiane Rahimi was awarded the top scorer of the tournament, earning the prize after scoring an impressive eight goals throughout the competition.