Ghizlane Chebbak makes Morocco women's football great
The recognition for Ghizlane Chebbak has been just, even if it comes almost too late. The footballer, born in Rabat in 1990, was named best player of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations that took place between Rabat and Casablanca (Morocco) from 2 to 23 July 2022.
Morocco lost the final 1-2 to South Africa, but won a very important award that highlights the work that the Moroccan Football Federation is also doing with women's football. Chebbak lifted the CAN Player of the Year trophy after three goals and an assist. Although the Atlas Lionesses lost to the South Africans in the final, it was recognition of the work they have been doing since 1998 when they played their first ever match against South Africa in Pretoria with a 1-1 draw.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI personally called the women's national team to congratulate the players and coaching staff despite the defeat in the final. The monarch spoke with the president of the FRMF, with coach Reynald Pedros and dedicated emotional words to Ghizlane Chebbak to thank all the players for the excellent tournament they had played.
The great trajectory of the Moroccan women's national team has crossed paths with the men's team that will play in the World Cup in Qatar next November. Two golden ages for Moroccan football with which the girls have also managed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup to be played between the venues of Australia and New Zealand.
Ghizlane Chebbak and seven other team-mates who have played in CAN 2022 play for ASFAR, the Royal Armed Forces Sports Association in the women's category inaugurated in 2007. The team shares goals with the men's ASFAR, which was established in 1958. Chebbak has seven league titles and five cups to her name. She has also been top scorer in her league on three occasions.
Chebbak's pride is undoubtedly to carry her father's name in the world of football, the person who did so much to support his daughter in a man's sport, "he was always my first supporter," Chebbak explained. She said after the first match that "most people know my father. I did my best to pay tribute to him and make my country proud. I am living a dream and to realise it I have to win this Africa Cup, to be, like my father, one of the first to win this title in Morocco".
Although the desire to win the title did not come true, the daughter of Larbi Chebbak (1947-2020), one of the great stars of Moroccan football who lifted the CAN in 1976, was satisfied with the work she did in the tournament and is already looking to the future to continue to make her country's women's football great.