WAFCON 2024: Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak in Group Stage Best XI

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).

The Moroccan national team advanced to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for Women (WAFCON Morocco-2024), following their victory against Senegal 1 to 0, on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, as part of the third and final day of Group A.

Thanks to a penalty scored by Yasmin Mrabet (45’+2), the Lionesses of the Atlas secured top spot in their group with seven points.

They are ahead of Zambia on goal average, who in turn beat DR Congo 1-0 at Mohammedia’s El Bachir stadium, netted by Racheal Kundananji (9′).

Moroccan women’s football team bested their Congolese counterparts 4-2 on Wednesday evening at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, as part of Group A’s 2nd match day of the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON Morocco-2024).

 Ghizlane Chebbak netted a hat-trick for Morocco (25′, 43′, 75′), followed by a penalty from Yasmin M’Rabet (83′), while Merveille Kanjinga (6′) and Flavine Mawete (70′) scored for DR Congo.      

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, emphasized on Saturday in Salé that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), being held in the Kingdom, will be the most memorable of all editions of this continental competition.

“This edition will undoubtedly be the most successful and memorable of all. My deep gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI, as well as to the Moroccan people for their continued support for the development of African football,” said Motsepe during a press conference following a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee.

The South African official praised the participation of African clubs in the Club World Cup, namely Wydad Casablanca, Espérance de Tunis, Egypt’s Al Ahly, and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. He expressed hope to see African teams go even further in future editions of the Club World Cup.

According to the CAF President, “Africa is proud of Morocco’s performance at the last World Cup in Qatar, where the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals.”

“I am confident that an African national team will be crowned World Champion in the future,” he added, stating that Morocco will host the best-ever edition of the men’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2025.

For his part, the President of the FRMF, Fouzi Lekjaa, stated that the Federation’s goal is to “remain in perfect alignment with the roadmap laid out by HM the King for the development of African and Moroccan youth.”

“We are pleased that these directives are increasingly taking shape on a land of brotherhood, history, tolerance, coexistence, and long-running civilization.”

The meeting of the CAF Executive Committee was held on the sidelines of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), taking place from July 5 to 26 in Morocco.

In the latest rankings of the International Federation of Football (FIFA), published on Thursday, the Moroccan women’s national football team has retained their 60th spot in the global ranking while keeping their position as Africa’s third best team.

After a narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon and a 3-1 victory over Tunisia in friendlies, the Atlas Lionesses wrapped up June rankings with 1,419.63 points, a slight dip of 8.09 points compared to the previous rankings.

Nigeria (1,623.63 points) and South Africa (1,488.49) remain the continent’s top two teams, with Morocco holding firm in third. Cameroon (1,396.20) and Zambia (1,395.35) trail closely behind.

Egypt, now ranked 93rd globally, were the biggest climbers in this update, jumping seven spots. 

At the international level, the US are still on top, while Spain (2nd) and Germany (3rd), both unbeaten this quarter, are closing in after the Americans stumbled at home with a 2-1 defeat to a 4th-placed-Brazil in April. Brazil’s surge to fourth marks a major milestone as their first time occupying the spot since 2013. England sits fifth, narrowly ahead of Sweden.  

Meanwhile, Japan (7th, -2) and Canada (8th, -1) lost ground after defeats to Brazil and Argentina, respectively.  

At the South American level, Colombia (18th, +3) made history by cracking the top 20 for the first time after a narrow victory against South Korea. Paraguay (45th, +1) and Venezuela (48th, +3) also hit their all-time highs, with Venezuela pulling off a shock 3-1 win over New Zealand.  

Central America is also making strides, as Haiti (50th, +3) and Puerto Rico (79th, +2) reach unprecedented heights, while Saudi Arabia (165th, +1), Luxembourg (111th, +6), and Bangladesh (128th, +5) celebrate record climbs.