Morocco’s Olympic team (U23) will take on Iraq on Tuesday at 4 pm at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice in a crucial match for both teams to secure a place in the Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament quarter-finals.
The competition in Group B is intense, with all four teams, Argentina, Morocco, Ukraine, and Iraq, currently tied with three points from two matches each.
With the outcome of this evening’s games determining the group’s final standings, Morocco, having achieved a 2-1 victory over Argentina in their opening match but suffering a 1-2 loss to Ukraine, must secure a win against Iraq to advance to the round of 16.
A victory would secure Morocco’s qualification for the quarter-finals, whereas a draw would also be sufficient if the match between Ukraine and Argentina ends in a draw. In such a case, Morocco would advance based on their goal difference.
However, suppose both the Morocco-Iraq and Ukraine-Argentina matches end in draws; in this case, the decision will hinge on goal difference and goals scored, adding further pressure on the Moroccan team to secure a decisive result.
The Atlas Cubs prospects of advancement to the next stage may be affected by the potential non-participation of key forward Soufiane Rahimi.
Rahimi, injured during the match against Ukraine, left the field in the 87th minute due to an ankle injury.
Despite participating in a light training session on Monday, according to local media Le 360, his availability for the match against Iraq remains uncertain.
His participation in the upcoming match would provide a substantial advantage for the Moroccan team, given his notable contributions in previous matches, scoring all of Morocco’s goals.
As the Moroccan squad amassed some yellow cards, there is a possibility that this could work against them if the qualification process is decided by the Fair Play rule.