The Moroccan women’s football team is a step away from achieving the dream of being on the throne of African women’s football, when it plays the final of the Continental Nations Cup for the first time in their history once morest South Africa, on Saturday, at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
The final will produce a new champion for the continent, following Nigeria dominated the title on 11 occasions out of 13 copies, and Equatorial Guinea broke through the list of winners of two titles.
The “Atlas lionesses” overcame all obstacles until the final meeting, and confirmed their presence in the Women’s World Cup finals, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand next year, in an unprecedented Arab achievement.
The women of Morocco reached the final, following defeating the national team crowned with the championship 11 times in 13 copies, Nigeria in the semi-finals on penalties 5-4 following a 1-1 draw in normal and overtime.
Ghazlan Al-Shebak and her colleagues are aware that the title is close, especially since their team enjoys the workers of the land and the public, so the 31-year-old Royal Army player seeks to continue her brilliance in order to dedicate the title to her late father, Al-Arabi Al-Shabak, the star of the “Atlas Lions” team in the seventies.
“My father has been very supportive of me since I was young,” she told AFP. “He saw in the talented player who might be a soccer player in the future.
And she added: “We have worked for years for this moment and achieve this achievement. Our qualification for the World Cup and the final of the tournament does not mean that the competition is over.”
Historic qualification.. Moroccan women became the first Arab team to reach the World Cup and reach the African Nations Cup semi-finals.
Congratulations to the women of Morocco. pic.twitter.com/ysFAn05EhJ— Head of the Moroccan Government (@ChefGov_ma) July 14, 2022
The net scored 3 goals in the tournament and contributed greatly to reaching the final, along with goalkeeper Khadija Al-Rumaishi, who saved many balls, especially a penalty kick for Nigeria in the semi-finals,
She said, “The final is won and not played. We will need a lot of focus once morest a team that has proven its strength in previous matches, leading to the final.”
“We feel proud that we have brought happiness to the Moroccan fans. Our goal is to continue the journey successfully and win the African title, for the first time in the history of Moroccan women’s football,” Al-Rumaichi continued.
For his part, the French team coach, Reynald Pedros, confirmed that he is happy to be with the players who were able to reach the dream final.
The local newspaper, “Akhbar 24”, quoted Pedros as saying, following the victory over Nigeria, that the Moroccan women’s team will give everything it has to go to the highest level, noting that these moments should not be thought regarding, but rather must be lived, and then the preparation for the final once morest South Africa will be.
The Atlas Lionesses coach added that the South African team is playing well, and that every match is difficult, and this final will be wonderful and will be well prepared, wishing that a wonderful final will be presented to the players, the country and everyone.
The Moroccan women’s team started its campaign in the tournament by defeating Burkina Faso 1-0, then continued its strong start by defeating Uganda 3-1, and concluded the group stage with a full mark with a 1-0 victory over Senegal.
In the quarter-finals, they overcame Botswana 2-1, then overthrew Nigeria in the semi-finals. The Moroccan players scored 8 goals and conceded three goals.
And Tottenham player Rosella Al-Ayyan said that the match once morest South Africa will not be easy.
wide options
Pedros has a wide range of options in his squad, especially the net, Al-Ramishi and Al-Ayyan, as well as some female professionals such as the French Nantes defender Eva Alice, the Spanish Levante midfielder Yasmine Amrabat and the French Saint Malo star Selma Amani, Sana Al-Masoudi and Fatima Teknout, both players of the Royal Army.
Banyana Banyana, led by coach Desiree Ellis, who won the award for the best coach in Africa yesterday, beat Nigeria 2-1, then Burundi 3-0, and Botswana 1-0, ending the first round with a full mark.
South Africa surpassed Tunisia in the quarter-finals, and Zambia in the semi-finals with the same result.
The team featured Eibar’s Spanish defender Noko Matlo, AC Milan midfielder Jane Revelo, Prague strikers Jermain Ciobosinoy and Racing Louisville’s Thembi Kegatlana.
The African Union raised the tournament prizes by 150% by $2.4 million, including half a million dollars for the winner of the title, compared to $300,000 for the runner-up.