Marrakech – As the Olympic flame burns bright in Paris, Morocco’s athletes are making their mark on the global stage.
With a delegation of 60 strong competitors, comprising 42 men and 18 women, the North African nation is poised to write a new chapter in its Olympic history across 19 disciplines.
Leading French newspaper Ouest-France highlighted Morocco’s determination to bounce back from the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympics, where they secured only one medal – a gold by Soufiane El Bakkali in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
“The Kingdom hopes to achieve an improved performance in Paris, especially in athletics,” the newspaper reported, noting the nation’s high hopes for its 13-strong track and field team, including El Bakkali and marathon standouts Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi and Kaoutar Farkoussi.
Ouest-France also spotlighted other Moroccan contenders, such as world heavyweight boxing champion Khadija El Mardi, judoka Soumiya Iraoui, and surfing sensation Ramzi Boukhiam, the first Arab to compete in Olympic surfing and qualify for the World Surf League championships.
The newspaper further noted the promise of Morocco’s U23 men’s football team, back at the Olympics for the first time since 2012 and featuring rising stars like Elias Ben Seghir.
This Olympic contingent, the second-largest in Morocco’s history, began their campaign in dramatic fashion.
In a thrilling men’s football opener against Argentina, the Atlas Lions secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory amid late controversy.
Argentina appeared to have scored an equalizer in the 106th minute through Cristian Medina, sparking crowd unrest that forced a lengthy suspension of play.
However, following a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside. Morocco then held on to secure their victory as they completed the remaining minutes of the match in an empty stadium.
Other international media outlets also took note of Morocco’s Olympic potential.
Ahead of Morocco’s opening football match against the Latin American team, ESPN Argentina previewed the football clash, acknowledging the African champions as “a team to take into account” with “interesting players.”
The sports network highlighted PSG star Achraf Hakimi as the team’s figurehead and one of the world’s best fullbacks.
With a blend of established champions and emerging talents, the nation is well-positioned to improve upon its record of 24 total Olympic medals and showcase the very best of Moroccan sport.
Read also: International Media Track Morocco’s Football Journey Ahead of Olympics Kick-Off
