Morocco's women's national team reaches the last 16 of the World Cup
Morocco continues to make good news in the world of sport, and more specifically in football. After the resounding success achieved by the men's national football team at the last World Cup in Qatar, where they qualified for the semi-finals (the first time an Arab and African team has achieved this), this time it is the turn of the women's team to achieve the feat.
The King's support and attention to sport achieves a spectacular improvement and the promotion of women in the public sphere.
Morocco qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with a 1-0 win over Colombia on Thursday in the final Group H match. The milestone is marked by the fact that it is the first World Cup appearance for the North African country's women's national team. What makes Morocco's achievement even more remarkable is that they are the first team from the North Africa and Middle East (MENA) region to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The Atlas Lionesses achieved the feat of reaching the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win over Colombia in Group H of the World Cup. They took advantage of the fact that Germany (champions in 2003 and 2007) were unable to overcome South Korea in a 1-1 draw. This is the first time the Germans have failed to advance past the first group stage, which Morocco took advantage of to get through.
The match against the Colombians was a tough one as the South American side had control of the ball at various stages of the game, with up to 60% of possession during the match going to the Cafeteros, and they also had star player Linda Caicedo, who had scored two goals in the first two games of the competition. Fortunately for the Moroccans, it was in injury time of the first half that a penalty was awarded to striker Ibtissam Jraidi which led to the goal. Captain Ghizlane Chebbak, daughter of legendary former player Larbi Chebbak and who was named best player at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations women's tournament between Rabat and Casablanca, took the spot-kick which was saved by Catalina Perez, only for Anissa Lahmari to tap in the rebound to open the scoring.
Morocco's solid defence neutralised Colombia, who were unable to penetrate the Moroccan defensive lines in the first half.
In the second half there were clear chances for the Colombians through Linda Caicedo, Montoya and Durango, but goalkeeper Er-Rmichi did her best to keep out the Colombian attack. Even striker Ramirez sent a shot against the post late in the game.
Morocco had already beaten the Koreans on the second day of the group and after overcoming Colombia, the team coached by Reynald Pedros, a former French footballer with a great career in the 1980s and 1990s, are now in the Round of 16 as they look to overcome a strong French side in the last 16.
Despite the defeat, Colombia also qualified after Germany's draw against South Korea. It was the Colombians and Moroccans who took the top two places in the group for a place in the Round of 16 after both teams earned six points. Morocco were able to beat South Korea and Colombia overcame an opening loss to Germany to earn the six points that booked them a place in the last 16.
Next Tuesday, 8 August, France await them in the Round of 16. In the men's World Cup, Morocco only lost in the semi-finals to Kylian Mbappé's France, who went on to lose the final to Lionel Messi's Argentina. Let's see how the Atlas Lionesses fare in this women's World Cup.
