Achraf Hakimi, a star performer for Morocco at the last World Cup in Qatar is set to ignite Morocco’s football team at the Paris 2024 men’s football event as he is one of the players named by Coach Tarik Sektioui.

The football event will run from July 24 to August 9. The list of Moroccan players was unveiled on Thursday.

Tarik Sektioui, the coach of the U23 Lionceaux, unveiled the list during a press conference held at the Mohammed VI Complex in Maâmora.

Sektioui, who has the right to include three players from the A team in his list, decided to call up goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi, full-back Achraf Hakimi and striker Soufiane Rahimi.

The goalkeepers’ list includes Munir El Kajoui, Rachid Ghanimi, and Mohamed Reda Asmama.

In defense,  the Olympic squad will feature Achraf Hakimi, Ayman El Wafi, Mehdi Boukamir, Akram Nakach, Zakaria El Ouahidi, Adil Tahif, Haytam Manaout.

Joining in midfield are Bilal El Khannouss, Benjamin Bouchouari, Yassine Kechta, Oussama Targhaline, Oussama El Azzouzi, Amir Richardson, and Mehdi El Moubarik.

Morocco’s first match in the group stage  will be against Argentina on July 24th in Saint-Étienne, followed by a clash with Ukraine on July 27th and a final group game against Iraq on July 30th in Nice. 

Former Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny and Zamalek winger Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed have been selected by coach Rogerio Micale to lead the Egypt U-23 team in this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris 2024 as senior players.

All participating teams are allowed to name three senior players in their squad, but due to refusals from players’ clubs, Micale settled for just two players.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, Frankfurt winger Omar Marmoush, and FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed were among the candidates to join Egypt U-23, but their clubs declined to release them for pre-season preparations.

There were reports that Micale also desired to call up Ahly’s duo Mohamed Abdel-Moneam and Emam Ashour, as well as Pyramids FC winger Mostafa Fathi, but both teams rejected his request as they compete for the Egyptian League title.

In addition to Elneny and Zizo, the Brazilian coach has selected 20 players, including Zamalek trio Hossam Abdel-Meguid, Mohamed Shehata, and Ziad Kamal.

Pyramids FC star Ibrahim Adel is also part of the selected squad, alongside Ahly trio Hamza Alaa, Ahmed Nabil, and Karim El-Debiss.

Egypt’s camp will start on Friday, with Elneny and Zizo joining the camp two days later.

The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August, with the men’s football tournament starting on July 24.

Egypt have been drawn into Group C, alongside Spain, the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Hamza Alaa (Ahly), Ali El Gabry (Ceramica Cleopatra), Mohamed Seha (Arab Contractors)

Defenders: Ahmed Sayed (Zed FC), Karim El Debes (Ahly), Hossam Abdel-Meguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdi (Enppi SC), Mohamed Tarek, Ahmed Eid (Masry), Mohamed El Maghrabi (Smouha SC), Omar Fayad (FK Novi Pazar)

Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Without club) Mahmoud Saber, Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Atef, Mostafa Saad (Zed FC), Ahmed Nabil (Ahly)Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, Ziad Kamal, Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek).

Strikers: Osama Faisal (NBE Club), Bilal Mazhar (Panathinaikos)

-Ahram

KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigeria’s women football team, Super Falcons are returning to the Olympic Games 16 years after their last participation. Sports Village Square recalls that the team is starting from where they ended – a clash with Brazil.

The Brazilians were the last team the Super Facons faced at Beijing 2008. This time, they are meeting at Bordeaux in just 24 days from now.

 Sports Village Square investigates the Brazilian team which the Super Falcons will face at Stade de Bordeaux.

Brazil have a nice mix of star quality with experience, as well as a number of promising youth players expecting to make the squad.

Their new coach, Arthur Elias, joined the team after last year’s World Cup and has since led Brazil to a final in the Gold Cup earlier in the year.

The team looks on the up, and with Brazil recently being announced as the next hosts of the Women’s World Cup, there is plenty of optimism among the nation about its future.

Following Brazil’s women’s Copa America win in 2022, they sealed their spot at the Olympics and are now placed in a group along with Spain, Japan and Nigeria.

Their current group is tough, but with a third-place spot potentially being enough to qualify, Brazil expect  to reach the knockout stages. The team operates a 3-4-2-1 formation.

There are several experienced heads in the Brazil squad. Seven of the players are 30 years old or older, which would have given them numerous attempts at both the World Cup and the Olympics in the past.  

A further six of the starting eleven for Brazil are in their prime years of their career, between 27 and 30 years old.

This mix of experience, peak performers, and several young stars joining the team makes an exciting combination, shaping up a side ready to battle at the Olympics in the perfect conditions and balance of the squad.

Information  gleaned from  the publication of Total Football Analysis focuses on Brazil women’s team since  Elias took charge in October of last year, and how he has been setting his team up in the past few months.

His most likely starting line-up against the Super Falcons runs thus: Luciano, a 37-year old will be in goal following her strong showing in the Gold Cup earlier this year. In 12 league games for her club, Ferroviaria, she conceded five goals showing the strong form .

Antonia Silva is expected to start at the right side of the back three. She has performed the role in 14 of  the coach’s 15 games in charge. In the heart of defence – the centre of the back three, 21-year-old Lauren will likely play.

 At left centre-back, Rafaelle has regularly featured in the role. After swapping Arsenal  in England’s FA Women’s Super Leaguen for Orlando Pride, she is currently part of the defence which has only conceded eleven goals in thirteen league games.

Adriana, Rafaelle’s teammate, will likely hold the width on the right flank, playing as the wing-back, although she is an attacking-minded player.

Duda Sampaio of Corinthians is reportedly helping her club dominate the league with 12 wins in the 13 opening games of the season from the centre of the pitch.

Although she is a more attack-minded option, her partner, Duda Santos, will attempt to provide some balance. At left wing-back, Yasmim, a natural left-back, will play.

Bia Zaneratto is expected to start on the right-hand side in the front three.

The front three will remain fairly narrow, so even though she has often started as the centre forward for her club and managed nine  goal contributions in eight league starts, the role will be fairly similar for Brazil.

On the left side, 38-year-old Brazil legend Marta is expected to play, although she missed the Gold Cup earlier in the year.

Gabi Nunes will lead the line at centre forward after 11 goals in 23 starts for Levante in the Spanish Primera Division.