Brazil is set to play Egypt In men’s Olympic in the Tokyo 2021 football quarterfinals .
Spain and Brazil are the surviving favorites in the men’s football tournament, which will award its top prize on Saturday, August 7.
Meanwhile, Africa will have two representatives in the quarterfinals of the men’s Olympic football tournament after Egypt defeated Australia in Rifu to book their place alongside Côte d’Ivoire.
Ahmed Rayan and Ammar Hamdy scored in each half for a 2-0 victory which saw Egypt finish second in Group C level on four points with two-time winners Argentina who drew 1-1 with group leaders Spain.
The Pharaohs, however, advanced because of their superior goal difference (+1 compared to Argentina’s -1) and will now face defending champions Brazil in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Egypt (15) has qualified for the men’s football tournament more times than any other African nation and should they defeat Brazil, will have a chance to at least equal their previous best performances: two fourth-placed finishes in 1928 and 1964.
Côte d’Ivoire, who advanced at the expense of Rio 2016 runners-up Germany, will play Spain in the first quarterfinal also on Saturday.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s campaign ended in disaster with a 3-0 defeat to Mexico meaning they exited the tournament without winning a single game.
Alexis Vega and Luis Romo netted in the first half as Mexico led 2-0 at the break. South Africa’s task was made even harder as Tercious Malepe was sent off 11 minutes into the second half and Henry Martin added a third just three minutes later. Mexico also finished the game with 10 men as Carlos Rodriguez was also sent off midway through the half.
Nevertheless the less 2020 Olympics in Tokyo continue on this weekend as the men’s tournament hits match day two on Sunday, July 25 as all 16 teams will be back in action. Mexico, only one of the two CONCACAF teams in the tournament, sits atop Group A after a commanding 4-1 win over the France squad while the other representative from the region Honduras lost their opener 1-0 to Romania in Group B.
