The Africa Olympics 2024 have been a sight to behold. It has showcased the abilities and potential of African football on the world stage. While some teams have risen to the occasion, others have fallen short, illustrating both the progress made and the continuing challenges within African soccer.

The Rise of African Football in Olympics 2024

Morocco’s Triumphant Journey

Morocco’s journey through the 2024 Olympics was nothing short of spectacular. The team cemented its status with an impressive 4-0 triumph over the United States. This success builds on what Morocco did during the World Cup, with key players like Hakimi leading them forward. Though this is not exactly the Qatar 2022 squad, having such influential players demonstrates that Morocco is ready for such an eventuality.

Egypt’s Strategic Success

Also, Egypt has shown how it can navigate well through this tournament using its strategic precision. Their well-thought-out tactics, as witnessed during a very tense quarterfinal match against Paraguay, eventually won them through penalty kicks, showing their experience in big games. It is because of Egypt’s ability to maintain composure under pressure that they are now heading to the semi-finals.

Challenges Faced by African Teams

Mali and Guinea’s Struggles

However, not all African teams have performed well, despite Morocco’s and Egypt’s successes. For instance, Mali and Guinea had a hard time during the competition. With only one point accrued, Mali was in its worst form, while Guinea was accused of lacking ambition. These performances indicate bigger problems within the teams, including being ill-prepared and not being driven enough to succeed on the international stage.

The Decline of African Women’s Football

This problem is also evident in the women’s tournament, where Nigeria and Zambia were disappointing in their performances at different times throughout. They could get no single point each from group stages, something that shows that there has been a general fall in African women’s football. Though Zambia had moments of brilliance, their inexperience was evident during the 6-5 defeat to Australia, which was painful. Whereas Nigeria, one of the strongholds of women’s soccer, has regressed significantly as a result of a lack of structures for nurturing and supporting female players.

Conclusion

With the Africa Olympics 2024 ended, African football seems to be at a crossroads. Morocco and Egypt have shown that African countries can compete at the highest levels; however, other teams are still struggling. In order to continue progressing, there should be renewed focus on preparation, ambition, and structural support, especially for women’s sports. For African sports globally, these 2024 Olympics may mark just the start of something new.