Morocco defeated Argentina 2-1 in a dramatic game that took over four hours to conclude at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Group B encounter played at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, saw Morocco take a 2-0 lead, buoyed by the strong support from the home fans, who earlier booed when Argentina had their national anthem played.
However, the situation escalated when Christian Medina equalised for Argentina in the 16th minute of stoppage time which resulted in Moroccan fans storming onto the pitch, hurling firecrackers, flares, and bottles.
The chaos forced the referee to suspend the match as both sets of players went into the locker room with the fans advised to leave the stadium as the match had been suspended.
Some two hours later, the players were called back to the pitch and Argentina’s equalise was ruled out by VAR, and play resumed for the final three minutes in an empty stadium with Morocco holding on to the lead.
ARG 🇦🇷 1 – 2 🇲🇦 MAR
📸 Paris 2024 pic.twitter.com/sPGS4RMjL7
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 24, 2024
In other matches played on the opening day of the men’s football event, African representatives, Mali, played out a 1-1 draw with Israel as Egypt settled for a goalless draw with the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Guinea lost to New Zealand, 2-1, in Group A with France securing a 3-0 victory against the United States.
Japan, where the biggest winners on the day as the Asian giants thrashed Paraguay 5-0, while Iraq defeated Ukraine, 2-1.
The Women’s football event will start on Thursday with Nigeria’s Super Falcons taking on the Samba Ladies of Brazil while world champions, Spain, lock horns with Japan in the other Group C fixture.
Africa’s other representative, Zambia, will take on the United States in Group B while Germany locks horns with Australia.
Group A sees Canada take on New Zealand and France take on Colombia.
