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Rabat – The Moroccan men’s beach volleyball team has clinched a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics after winning the African Beach Volleyball Championship held in the northern Moroccan city of Martil over the past three days.
The Moroccan duo, composed of Zouheir El-Karoui and Mohamed Abicha, retained their African champion title by defeating Mozambique in the final with a straight-sets victory, 21-18 and 21-12.
In the semifinals, the Moroccan team defeated South Africa, who finished in third place, in a tightly contested match that ended 18-21, 21-18, 15-10.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan women’s team secured third place after losing to defending champions Nigeria in the semifinals. The Egyptian women’s team claimed the African title and an Olympic spot by beating Nigeria 15-21, 21-16, 15-8.
Bouchra Hajij, President of the Royal Moroccan Volleyball Federation and the African Volleyball Confederation, praised the Moroccan men’s team for maintaining their dominance in African beach volleyball, MAP news agency reported.
She highlighted their unbeaten run throughout the tournament and expressed optimism about their potential to make a significant impact at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Hailing the Moroccan team for demonstrating exceptional skill and cohesion, Hajij said they now aim to represent African beach volleyball honorably at the Olympic Games.
Zouheir El-Karoui acknowledged the challenges posed by strong competition but reiterated the team’s commitment to achieving excellence in Paris.
He said that winning was not easy given the improved performance of participating teams, but expressed determination to honor Moroccan and African beach volleyball at the Olympics.
The African Beach Volleyball Championship saw fierce competition with 17 men’s and 12 women’s teams vying for the title.
Following the conclusion of the senior championship, Martil will host the African U19 Beach Volleyball Championship, beginning Monday, which will serve as a qualifier for the World Beach Volleyball Championship in China.
