American media widely covered Morocco’s decisive victory over the USA and its historic qualification for the semifinals of the men’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
It was a day to forget for the U.S. team after suffering a heavy defeat against a Moroccan side brimming with talent, according to The Athletic, a specialized sports magazine. The publication noted that the Atlas Lions demonstrated “clear superiority throughout the match.”
The New York Times highlighted that “Achraf Hakimi and his teammates dominated both the game and the statistics, halting the Americans’ dreams of winning a medal at the Olympics.”
The news outlet added that “Morocco achieved remarkable success through a clever mix of young talent and experienced stars.”
Yahoo Sports remarked that the U.S. faced a Moroccan team that was “faster and stronger,” noting that the Stars and Stripes struggled to keep pace with Tarik Sektioui’s squad.
Similarly, USA Today reported that the U.S. team logically lost to a Moroccan side that was the superior team throughout the match. The author of the article stated, “There is no shame in losing to the Atlas Lions.”
The New York Post reported that Bilal Akhannous and his teammates, who had defeated Argentina in the group stage, showed they were in pursuit of the title.
ESPN echoed this sentiment, describing Morocco’s dominance from the early minutes of the game and noting that the national team was “bolstered by a highly enthusiastic and motivated crowd.”
The crowd’s immense joy echoed through the stands at the Parc des Princes as they celebrated the four goals scored by Soufiane Rahimi, Achraf Hakimi, Ilias Akhomach, and El Mehdi Maouhoub.
Following Rahimi’s opening goal from a penalty in the 29th minute, Morocco maintained pressure and controlled the game, eventually securing their place in the semifinals.
NBC and CBS described the match as a “complete domination” by Morocco and a “crushing” victory over a U.S. team that had been performing well before succumbing to the strength and vigor of the Atlas Lions.
For a spot in the Olympic final, Morocco will face Spain, who defeated Japan 3-0, on Monday in Marseille.