From Football Thrills to Rugby Spills: Paris 2024 Kick-off

The world is brimming with anticipation as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach, set to officially begin with the Opening Ceremony on July 26. However, the action kicked off yesterday, two days earlier than the official opening ceremony with the men’s football and rugby7’s campaign.

Photo Credit: @ChannelIST

The men’s football tournament kicked off with a thrilling match on July 24, where Morocco triumphed over Argentina with a 2-1 victory. The opening game of the Olympic football event between Argentina and Morocco was marred by a fan invasion, causing a chaotic interruption. Initially tied at 2-2, the game resumed after a VAR review and ended with Morocco securing a 2-1 win.

Meanwhile, New Zealand edged out Guinea in a tightcontest, scoring a goal in each half to claim a 2-1 victory and all three points in their opener at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Egypt’s campaign began on a less enthusiastic note with a goalless draw against the Dominican Republic at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

The match between Mali and Israel ended in a 1-1 stalemate; Israel took the lead through an own goal by defender Hamidou Diallo in the 57th minute, only for Mali to equalize shortly after with a powerful header from Cheickna Doumbia, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Malian supporters.

The women’s football tournament is set to ignite tonight, July 25, with Nigeria’s Super Falcons facing off against Brazil at 7 PM, followed by a clash between Zambia and the USA at 9 PM.

The Rugby Sevens tournament also commenced on July 24, featuring high-energy performances from Kenya and South Africa representing Africa. Kenya’s national men’s 7s team, Shujaa, showcased their fighting spirit but fell short, losing 31-12 to Argentina in their opening Pool B match.

Later, they faced a formidable Australian team, suffering a 7-21 defeat. Kenya’s next match is today at 2 PM against a really strong Samoan side. South Africa, known as the Blitzboks, kicked off their Olympic journey with a narrow 10-5 loss to Ireland, followed by a 17-5 defeat to New Zealand. Despite their strong defensive efforts, the Blitzboks struggled to find attacking opportunities.

South Africa is set to play Japan at 4 PM on July 25, needing a significant victory to stay in contention for the quarter-finals, depending on other pool results.

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Archery starts today, July 25th, featuring the Women’s Individual event with Ali Jana of Egypt, Sylla Fatoumata of Guinea, and Elwalid Rihab of Tunisia. The Men’s Individual rounds will see Wian Roux from South Africa and Youssof Tolba from Egypt competing.

Handball will see Angola’s women open their Olympic journey against the Netherlands on July 25 at 11 AM. Meanwhile, Egypt’s men’s team will take on Hungary on July 27.

Table Tennis will commence on July 27 at 3 PM, showcasing top African players such as Quadri Aruna from Nigeria, and Omar Assar and Dina Meshref from Egypt. Rowing will also be in full swing on the same day, featuring athletes from Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe in both the Men’s and Women’s Single Sculls events.

Swimming heats will start on July 27, with South African stars Tatjana Schoenmaker and Chad le Clos, and Zambia’s Mia Phiti among the notable competitors. Fencing will kick off on the same day, with Egypt’s Ziad El Sissy returning to defend his sabre title and Rwanda’s Uwihoreye Tufaha making history as the country’s first participant.

On July 27, other exciting events include:

• Men’s Hockey: South Africa will play against the Netherlands at 12:45 PM.
• Badminton: Group play stages begin.
• Boxing: Preliminary bouts start.
• Judo: Matches commence.
• Beach Volleyball: The competition kicks off.
• Canoe Slalom: Athletes take to the water.
• Equestrian: Morocco and South Africa represent the continent in the dressage category.
• Volleyball: Egypt’s men face Poland at 5 PM.
• Cycling: Includes Road and Individual Time Trials for both men and women.
• Tennis: Matches start.

The week will culminate with South Sudan’s Olympic debut on July 28, as they face Puerto Rico at 11 AM.

Stay updated on all the action by downloading the Podium Pursuit app and following our Olympics blog. As #Paris2024 unfolds, prepare for a week of unparalleled athleticism and unforgettable moments.