One step away from glory: Morocco will play in its second consecutive final after eliminating Ghana
The Moroccan women's football team secured a place in the final of the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after eliminating Ghana on penalties.
The final, which will be played in Rabat on Saturday 26th at 8pm at the Olympic Stadium, which has a capacity of 21,000 spectators, will be the stage on which the host team can win its first title, two years after losing the last final against South Africa, who will play Ghana the day before for third and fourth place.
The precedents are good for Morocco. In the last meeting between the two teams, the Atlas Lionesses defeated the most successful team in history, with 11 championships, two second places and one third place, on penalties.
‘Since my arrival, the Moroccans have surprised me, and a lot. They have a unique enthusiasm for football, everyone lives the sport in an extraordinary way,’ he said.
During the post-match press conference, Madrid-born coach Jorge Vilda, who won the World Cup with the Spanish national team before being dismissed due to the scandals involving the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, pointed out that the support received from the fans in the stadium was key in helping his players take a step forward in extra time and finally in the penalty shootout.
He took the opportunity to congratulate the entire squad, including the coaching staff. ‘The Moroccan players have mental strength and resilience that were reinforced by their commitment and subsequent performance on the pitch. You can't reach the final without resources, and we have them,’ he concluded. If he wins the WAFCON with Morocco, Jorge Vilda will be the first coach to win two major titles with two different teams from two different continents.
Alongside the coach was the best player of the tournament, Ibtissam Jraidi, who echoed his sentiments, confirming that the fans' support was key to the victory. ‘The atmosphere is good and we are aware of the responsibility we have to please the Moroccan fans, although the match will not be easy,’ she said.
Regarding the match against Nigeria, Jraidi clarified that ‘we know it will be decided by small details, as we have analysed the strengths and weaknesses of this team. We must be more focused and prepared because we are determined to please the Moroccan fans.’
Regarding Vilda's comments on the team's preparation, she explained that ‘we are working hard and all areas of our team are balanced. In fact, I am not so focused on the top scorer award as I am on winning matches and winning the coveted title.'
Although Nigeria is the favourite to win the tournament, the fact that Morocco is the host will give a boost to the team, which is fully confident in its abilities and in its ability to pull off an upset in the final.
In football, statistics, although not always, reflect the work behind each match. And in this case, the national team is the master of all of them.
Morocco has scored the most goals per game (2.5), has the best possession percentage (55.8%), has the tournament's top scorer, Ghizlane Chebbak, with four goals, and the best player, with an average rating of 8.1 out of 10: Ibtissam Jraidi.
On the other side is Nigeria, which is second in all statistics behind Morocco. However, given its track record, it is considered the team to beat by the major bookmakers and sports media.
The final will be Morocco's second chance in history to be crowned champions of the continent's most important women's tournament. The more than 21,000 fans who will be at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat will surely help the Lionesses of the Atlas achieve their first and only tournament victory.
