Morocco’s Lionesses Hold Ground at 60th in FIFA World Rankings, 3rd in Africa

The Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final was lost by the Moroccan national team against Nigeria (2-3) due to “small details,” said head coach Jorge Vilda.

“The players delivered a perfect first half, but in the second half, they collapsed physically due to the significant effort they put in during the first half of the match,” explained Vilda during a press conference held after the final of the Women Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco 2024).

He emphasized that the cancellation of the penalty in the final minutes of the match was a blow to the players, considering that the national team was the better side on the field, despite the strength of the Nigerian team.

“It is still too early to assess the Moroccan team’s performance in this tournament,” he said, stressing that all members of the national team are disappointed and deeply saddened by the loss of the title.

In this regard, he added that the national team includes experienced players capable of giving a lot in the future, despite the age of some of them, explaining that the physical collapse was due to having played 120 minutes in the semifinal against Ghana, in addition to the great efforts made throughout the tournament.

Morocco’s National Women Football Team lost the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON Morocco 2024) to Nigeria by a score of 3-2 on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

Ghizlane Chebbak (13’) and Sanaa Mssoudy (24’) scored Morocco’s goals, while Ijeoma Okoronkwo (64’, p.), Folashade Ijamilusi (71’), and Onyi Echegini (88’) completed Nigeria’s comeback.

Third place in this edition went to Ghana, who beat South Africa 4-3 on penalties (regular time 1-1) in the third place match on Friday at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

Morocco’s national women football team booked their place in the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, after edging Ghana 4-2 on penalties in a tense semi-final clash that ended 1-1 after extra time on Tuesday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

Stella Nyamekye had opened the scoring for Ghana in the 26th minute, before Sakina Ouzraoui managed to equalize for Morocco in the 55th.

For the final, Morocco will face, on Saturday 9:00 pm local time in Rabat, Nigeria who had eliminated South Africa earlier in the day (2-1).

The Moroccan women’s national football team has qualified for the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after defeating their Malian counterparts 3-1 (halftime 1-0) on Friday evening at the Rabat Olympic Stadium in the quarter-finals. 

The goals for the Atlas Lionesses were scored by Ibtissam Jraidi, who netted a brace (7th, 79th min, penalty), and Kenza Chapelle (89th min). Aissata Traoré scored Mali’s consolation goal in stoppage time (90+7th min, penalty).

In the semi-finals, Morocco will face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between Ghana and Algeria, to be played in Berkane.

Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak has been selected in the Best XI for the group stage of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), unveiled on Wednesday by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

According to CAF’s technical study group, The Best XI of the group phase of the tournament, held until July 26 in Morocco, is “set up in a 4-3-3 formation, highlighting the standout performers of this first round, following a thrilling group phase that saw 45 goals scored in 18 matches”, CAF said on its website.

The midfield trio of Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria), Ghizlane Chebbak and Refiloe Jane (South Africa) embodies pace, power and precision, the same source adds, noting that Ghizlane Chebbak, voted Best Player of the group phase, “orchestrated play with vision, precise passing, and attacking flair”.

Chebbak, 34, contributed to the Moroccan team’s qualification for the quarter-finals with 4 goals in the group phase.

The XI’s defensive line is based on an experienced central pairing made up of Bambanani Mbane (South Africa) and Zambia’s Lushomo Mweemba, alongside Ashleigh Plumptre (Nigeria) and Fikile Magama (South Africa).

Meanwhile, Algerian goalkeeper Chloé N’Gazi was voted best keeper of the first round.

South Africa’s Desiree Ellis, reigning champion with Banyana Banyana, was awarded Best Coach of the group phase.

In the quarter-finals next Friday (8 p.m.), Morocco will face Mali at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium.

 The Moroccan women’s football team will face its Malian counterpart in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2024), during the third and final matchday of the first round.

This quarterfinal match will take place on Friday at 8:00 pm (local time) at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

Mali lost to South Africa on Monday evening by a score of 4-0 at the Honor Stadium in Oujda, finishing third in Group C with 4 points. South Africa topped the group with 7 points.

In the other Group C match played in Berkane, Ghana lost 4-1 to Tanzania, ending the group stage in second place with 4 points.

Morocco finished at the top of Group A with 7 points, earned from two victories—against DR Congo (4-2) and Senegal (1-0)—and one draw against Zambia (2-2).