The Moroccan National Olympic Committee (CNOM) has unveiled the official outfits for the Moroccan delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games which begin in 19 days time.

The Games will run from July 26 to August 11. According to reports from Morocco, CNOM collaborated with Spanish sportswear company “Kelme” to design and produce the official outfits.

With eyes likely to be on the Moroccan men’s football team following the kingdom’s splendid performance at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago, Morocco also aims to improve upon its performance from the previous Olympic Games held in Tokyo, where the nation secured a  gold medal.

Across many editions of the Olympic Games, Morocco grossed 24 medals comprising of seven gold, five silver and 12 bronze.

Throughout its past Olympic participations, Morocco has won a total of 24 medals, including 7 gold, 5 silver, and 12 bronze.

In related news, Tarik Sektioui, the head coach of Morocco’s national Olympic football team, announced the much anticipated final 26-man squad earlier this week.

The roster features three players over the age of 23, as permitted by Olympic regulations: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain), and Mounir El Kajoui (RS Berkane).

The Olympic football team will begin its group stage campaign against Argentina on July 24 in Saint-Étienne, followed by matches against Ukraine on July 27 and Iraq on July 30 in Nice.

Under Sektioui’s leadership, the team told the press that they aspire to make history by progressing beyond the group stage for the first time and potentially contending for Morocco’s first-ever medal in men’s football at the Olympic Games.

It is 18 days to Nigeria’s Super Falcons’first match at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the squad has began  preparations for their return to the Olympic Football Tournament after a 16-year hiatus.

 The Nigerian side that will face Brazil in Bordeaux has opened camp in the city of Jerez de la Frontera outside Sevilla in Spain.

Spain are one of their opponents at the tournament. According to a press release by the NFF, the Super Falcons’ camp has come alive with most of the invited players in camp.

With 12 players at breakfast on Monday, Team Administrator Mary Oboduku told thenff.com that two more players were being expected at the team’s Hotel Barceló Montecastillo Golf and Resort by Monday afternoon.

“We started training on Sunday, and the camp is calm. The players are in very high spirits as they look forward to the tournament in France,” Oboduku told thenff.com.

Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are at the head of the squad already in camp, with goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Chidinma Okeke and Nicole Payne, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini, and forward Esther Okoronkwo also in. Alternate players, goalkeeper Morufa Ademola and forward Gift Monday are also in camp.

Defenders Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie were being expected at the team’s hotel Monday afternoon.

The nine-time African champions, who last played at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in China in 2008, will take on reigning Olympic champions Canada in a training match in Sevilla on Wednesday, 17^th July.

Canada’s ladies defeated their counterparts from Sweden 3-2 after a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, to clinch the gold medal in Tokyo three years ago.

In their last outing at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, the Falcons lost 0-1 to Korea Democratic People’s Republic, 0-1 to Germany and 1-3 to eventual silver medallists Brazil.

Women’s football debuted at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1996, but the Super Falcons made their entry in 2000 in Australia, where they lost 1-3 each to China, eventual winners Norway and eventual silver medallists USA. Perpetua Nkwocha scored the lone goal against China while Mercy Akide was the scorer against both Norway and USA.

Nigeria’s best outing – so far – at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament was in Athens 20 years ago, where the Super Falcons finished in 6^th place after exiting the tournament in the quarter-finals.

Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has shared her disappointment at not making Nigeria’s squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris due to an injury.

Plumptre, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s qualification for the Olympics by defeating teams like Cape Verde and Cameroon but was unavailable in the final playoff against South Africa, was left out of the 18-player squad selected by coach Randy Waldrum.

Her absence is due to fitness concerns following an injury she sustained while playing for her club, Al Ittihad, in March.

Despite undergoing surgery in April and working hard on her recovery, Plumptre has not regained full fitness in time for the Olympics.

Expressing her feelings on X, she said, “Timings haven’t aligned to be in contention for the Olympic roster – a dream I’ve held since I can remember.”

She added, “Since having my surgery, I’ve worked in every area of my life to be in the best position to recover, but one thing I’ve learnt is how to listen to my body!”

While on a personal note, it’s a shame to miss out, I cannot put into words my excitement and pride in knowing I’ll be watching my @NGSuper_Falcon girls representing this flag on the Olympic stage.

Plumptre also expressed pride and excitement for her teammates, saying: “while on a personal note, it’s a shame to miss out, I cannot put into words my excitement and pride in knowing I’ll be watching my @NGSuper_Falcon’s girls representing this flag on the Olympic stage. Go well, girls! Naija to the world!”

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have started training since they arrived in Sevilla, Spain, last Friday to prepare for the Olympics.

Among the invited players, only 36-year-old goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi has previous Olympic experience. She was part of the squad that competed in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, although she did not make any appearances as Nigeria lost to Brazil, Germany, and North Korea.

The Super Falcons are holding a two-week training camp in Seville and will head to France on July 18.

Nigeria will play in Group C, where they will compete against Spain, Japan, and Brazil.