by Genevieve Henry (15/7/23)
Above: Morocco will be making history over the coming weeks. Photo: 7e News.
The African Cup Of Nations (WAFCON) runners-up have been making history as of late and will want to break a few new records in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
As the first-ever Arab country to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, the Atlas Lionesses will try to make this chapter even more impressive while inspiring young girls not only in Morocco, but all over Africa and the world.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Inès Arouaissa (Cannes), Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), Assia Zouhair (CAK).
Defenders: Hanane Aït El Haj (AS FAR), Nouhaila Benzina (AS FAR), Zineb Redouani (AS FAR), Yasmin Mrabet (Levante Las Planas), Rkia Mazrouai (Charleroi), Nesryne El Chad (Lille), Sabah Seghir (Napoli).
Midfielders: Najat Badri (AS FAR), Ghizlane Chebbak (AS FAR), Anissa Lahmari (Guingamp), Élodie Nakkach (Servette), Sarah Kassi (Fleury).
Forwards: Salma Amani (Metz), Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur), Sofia Bouftini (RS Berkane), Sakina Diki Ouzaroui (Anderlecht), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al Ahli), Fatima Gharbi (CE Europa), Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR), Kenza Chapelle (FC Nantes).
Head coach
Under the tenure of Reynald Pedros, the Moroccan Women’s National Team has won fourteen matches, lost seven, and drawn two. A highly experienced player and manager, Pedros was capped by France and has 317 appearances and 38 goals for over ten different clubs. Pedros also managed Olympique Lyonnaise from 2017-2019. His appointment has been a great asset to Moroccan soccer.
How they qualified
All four semi-finalists at the WAFCON in 2022 qualified for the World Cup, and Morocco were beaten finalists, going down 2-1 to South Africa in the decider.
World Cup history
This will be Morocco’s first qualification for the World Cup, and it is an extra proud achievement as they also become the first Arab nation to qualify for a Women’s World Cup.
Key Players
Led by captain and top-scorer, Ghizlane Chebbak, Morocco has a wealth of mostly undiscovered talent in their ranks. Chebbak, who has been playing for Moroccan powerhouse AS FAR since 2012, has a record of 21 goals in just 56 games as a midfielder. She was named WAFCON player of the tournament in 2022.
One of the most recognizable talents in the squad is Tottenham Hotspur’s, Rosella Ayane. Having lived in England her whole life, Ayane has played for many top teams and academies including Reading and Chelsea. She played for England youth-level national teams up until 2021, when she made her senior debut for Morocco, and has scored an impressive nine goals since then.
Rounding out the talent all over the field is defender Yasmin Mrabet. Born in Spain, she has over one hundred Liga Feminine appearances at the young age of 23. She debuted for Morocco in 2021 and has scored three goals for the Lionesses.
One to watch
Rkia Mazrouai, a 20-year-old, Dutch-born right-back has played high-level football for years, at youth levels for both Morocco and the Netherlands, and at Dutch clubs PSV and Gent.
Strengths
This team has a flourishing midfield and forward line, able to score goals past weaker opposition and doing a decent job against better opposition as well.
Development areas
They leak goals at times that are unnecessary and many of their players are young and, although filled with raw talent, lack experience.
Success would be:
Scoring some goals and putting up a fight against some teams in their group. They can hope for good results against Colombia particularly and cause South Korea some headaches.
Prediction
They won’t make it out of the group, but if they can pick up points against Colombia and/or South Korea, could finish third.
Group H Fixtures
24th July – Germany, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
30th July – South Korea, Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide.
3rd August – Colombia, HBF Park, Perth.
To read the other World Cup nation previews published so far, click on this link: https://impetusfootball.org/international-football/
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