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Both Morocco and Egypt gave up leads in the semi-final but they will be hoping to end the Olympics with a bronze medal on Thursday.
Morocco and Egypt are poised to face off in a high-stakes battle for the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
Both teams are seeking their first-ever Olympics medal in men’s football, making this clash a historic moment for both nations.
Egypt's journey to this bronze medal match has been marked by both triumph and heartbreak.
The Pharaohs suffered a dramatic 3-1 extra-time defeat to host nation France in the semi-finals.
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09:30 - 08.08.2024
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This loss came after Egypt had taken the lead, echoing a similar scenario from last summer’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they lost to Morocco after initially leading the game.
Coach Rogerio Micale has rallied his team with a focus on overcoming psychological barriers. "We will do everything to make our dream of securing an Olympic medal a reality," he declared.
Despite a habit of starting strong—taking the lead in three of their last four Olympic matches—Egypt's recent matches have shown vulnerability, with no clean sheets in their last three games.
This could be a crucial factor as they aim to hold onto any advantage they gain during the match.
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Morocco's route to the bronze medal match has been similarly dramatic. They led against Spain in their semi-final but eventually fell 2-1, with the match not extending into extra time.
This could provide Morocco with an edge in terms of freshness compared to Egypt, as they recover from their semi-final disappointment.
Morocco has surpassed expectations by reaching this stage, marking their best-ever performance in Olympic football, regardless of the final outcome.
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However, internal tensions have surfaced among Moroccan fans following a controversial half-time team talk by coach Walid Regragui.
Regragui's comments undermining manager Tarik Sektioui have sparked backlash, as Morocco conceded twice after the break in their semi-final.
Notably, the team has struggled defensively in the second half of matches, conceding four of their five goals in the tournament after the interval.
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Players to watch
Egypt's Mahmoud Saber has been a standout performer, opening the scoring against Spain and scoring first in the U23 AFCON final against Morocco last summer. His goal-scoring prowess will be crucial for Egypt's chances.
For Morocco, Soufiane Rahimi is the player to watch. With six goals in five games, Rahimi is a leading contender for the Golden Boot. Four of his six goals have come from the penalty spot, and he will be essential in Morocco's bid for bronze.
Four of Morocco’s five games in this Olympic tournament have featured exactly three goals, highlighting their tendency for high-scoring encounters.
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