In addition to facing Colombia, local Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil in Group A of the U-23 pre-Olympic tournament, Ecuador will have to overcome a complicated opponent: its history in the qualifying competition. The figures on national participation in the competition are not encouraging. Tricolor and the Altiplano team are the only representatives of Conmebol that did not participate in the Olympic Games.

Ecuador’s national team at the pre-Olympic games: 53.33% of lost games (terrible like the Copa América)

However, Miguel Bravo’s team from Quito, who will make their debut this Saturday against the coffee growers, are aiming to keep one of the two tickets to Paris 2024. achieved his last victory.

The U-23 Olympic Pre-Olympic Games will be watched in Ecuador outdoors and at the national level

Ecuador played in the pre-Olympic games in 1968, 1972, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2020. It did not participate in 1960, 1976 and 1980. After the 2004 edition, the tournament ceased to be held. because Conmebol has decided that the South American U-20 will serve as a qualifier for the Olympics. OO. On August 14, 2018, the continuation of the competition was announced, ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Brazil, Ecuador’s rival, begins preparations for the U-23 pre-Olympic tournament

40 years ago

40 years have passed since La Tri’s first pre-Olympic victory. Ecuador completes nine matches won, which reduces to six victories achieved in three editions of the competition of the 20th century and remaining in the fair of the new millennium.

There is a sad fact about the ten national football appearances in the pre-Olympic games: in half a dozen of them they failed to win a single game (1960, 1968, 1972, 1996, 2000, 2020). Instead, these are all the times Ecuador could celebrate victories.

Ecuador’s national team during the qualification for the 1984 Olympic Games.

1984: Pre-Olympic Games in Guayaquil

1. Ecuador 3, Colombia 0

(Hamilton Cuvi, 2; José Jacinto Vega)

2. Ecuador 3, Paraguay 2

(Wilson Armas, 2; Hamilton Cuvi)

1988: Pre-Olympic Games in Cochabamba

3. Ecuador 1, Venezuela 0

1992: Pre-Olympic Games in Asunción

4. Ecuador 2, Uruguay 0

(Eduardo Hurtado, Patricio Hurtado)

5. Ecuador 4, Bolivia 1

(Angel Fernánez,

Héctor Carabalí, Cléber Chalá,

Juan Chávez, against)

6. Ecuador 5, Chile 1

(Eduardo Hurtado, 2;

Ángel Fernánez,

Ivan Hurtado,

Luis Musrri, against)

2004: Pre-Olympic Games in Coquimbo

7. Ecuador 1, Colombia 0

(Roberto Mina)

8. Ecuador 4, Peru 1

(Johnny Baldeón, 2;

Franklin Salas,

Roberto Mina)

9. Ecuador 3, Bolivia 2

(Luis Checa,

Franklin Salas,

Felix Borja)

Overall, in ten pre-Olympic championships, Ecuador played 45 matches, won only 9 (20%), drew 11 and lost 24 (53.33%). He scored 46 goals and conceded 81, with minus 35 goals. (D)

Defender Luis Checa (behind) celebrates his goal with his teammate Geovanny ‘Cuchara’ Caiceda. On January 16, 2004, Ecuador beat Bolivia 3-2. Photo: Archive