Women’s World Cup: Atlas Lionesses, Source of Motivation and Pride – Abdellah Haidamou

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.

Jorge Vilda Rodriguez, head coach of the women’s national “A” football team, unveiled on Thursday the list of players selected for Atlas Lionesses’ friendly games against Tunisia and Cameroon on April 4 and 8 respectively.

These fixtures, to be played at Casablanca’s Père Jégo stadium, will serve as preparation for the next Women’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be held in Morocco on July 5-26, 2025.

Here follows the list of the 27-players squad:
 

— Goalkeepers:

  Fatima Zahra El Jebraoui (Wydad Casabanca), Zineb El Arari (RS Berkane), Hind Hasnaoui (AS FAR), Ines Arouaissa (Saint Malo/France).

— Defenders: 

  Zineb Redouani (AS FAR), Djennah Cherif (Genk Ladies/Belgium), Hanane Ait Elhaj (Valencia CF/Spain), Aziza Er-rabbah (AS FAR), Nouhaila Benzina (AS FAR), Siham Boukhami (AS FAR), Yasmin Mrabet (Valencia CF/Spain), Fatima El Ghazouani (RS Lens/France).

— Midfielders:

  Najat Badri (AS FAR), Ghizlane Chebbak (Levante Badalona/Spain), Eodie Nakkach (Al Ahli/Saudi Arabia), Sarah Kassi (FC Fleury 91/France), Soumia Hady (Wydad Casablanca), Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR), Imene El Ghazouani (Sevrette FC/Switzerland).

— Forwards:

  Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR), Sakina Ouzraoui Diki (Costa Adeje Tenerife/Spain), Jade Nassi (Stade Reims/France), Rania Boutiebi (Yla Brugges/Belgium), Imane Saoud (Sevrette FC/Switzerland), Ibtissa Jraïdi (Al Ahli Jeddah/Saudi Arabia), Kenza Chapelle (RC Strasbourg/France), Rosella Ayane (Tottenham/England).

The Moroccan under-20 women’s national team defeated Romania 4-2 on Wednesday during the third day of the Pink Ladies Cup at the Emirhan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey.

Goals were scored by Ghita Haouzi (2nd, 26th minutes), Ines Aboucharif (22nd), and Dina Haizoun (51st).

Earlier in the tournament, Morocco drew 1-1 with Turkey and lost 3-0 to Slovakia.

Morocco’s women football team has maintained its 59th place in the FIFA rankings published on Friday, and remains in the African top 3.

Absent from the last 2024 Olympic Games in Paris which factores in the FIFA rankings, the Atlas Lionesses still occupy third place at continental level, behind South Africa (50th) and Nigeria (36th).

Additionally, the U.S. team are back in the lead (+4) thanks to their victory at the Olympic Games, ahead of England (+1) and Spain who fell back to 3rd place.

The next FIFA ranking of women’s teams will be released on December 20.