By Morocco U23 Prepares for Paris 2024 Olympics with Friendly Win
With just six days left before their first match in the Paris 2024 Olympics, Morocco’s U23 team faced off against FC Villefranche Beaujolais, a French National Division 3 (D3) team, in a closed-door friendly on Thursday.
The match, held at Stade Armand Chouffet in Villefranche, near Lyon, served as a crucial preparatory event for the team. Under the guidance of coach Tarik Sektioui, the Moroccan squad secured a 2-1 victory. The goals came in quick succession from international player Ez Abde (64th minute) and Yassine Kechta from Le Havre (66th minute).
However, the game was not without its setbacks. Achraf Hakimi, one of the three overage players allowed in the Olympic squad, had a particularly challenging day. According to multiple sources, Hakimi missed two penalty kicks during the match. This marks a continuation of his recent struggles with penalties, a trend that began with a crucial miss against South Africa in the Round of 16 at the last Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). The right-back for Paris Saint-Germain clearly has yet to regain his confidence in this area.
Victory for Morocco 2-1 with goals from Abde and Kechta! Link — SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) July 18, 2024
As a reminder, the Atlas Lions will begin their Olympic campaign against Argentina on Wednesday, July 24, in Saint-Etienne.
