2023-08-09 12:42:30
Morocco’s success at the Women’s World Cup surprised many, yet these results are no accident. The Atlas Lionesses did not want to be content with a role of extras and they won their bet.
The last year has been decisive for the Moroccan selection. In July 2022, she surprised Nigeria in the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations. A few days later, more than 50,000 people crowded into the Prince Moulay Abdallah stadium in Rabat to watch the final against South Africa. Even though Morocco lost by a score of 2-1, this performance was a decisive moment. Such a large crowd in Morocco for a women’s soccer match would have been unthinkable not so long ago.
For the first time, 32 teams competed at the World Cup, which will have enabled some nations to obtain their place. On the eve of the start of the tournament, Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak said her team was not there to be just a number, but to compete.
After the 4th place obtained by the men at the World Cup presented in Qatar a few months ago, we had the impression that the women were determined to continue the project initiated by their companions.
The task was still colossal for this country which was 72nd in the FIFA rankings. The tournament got off to a bad start with a crushing 6-0 defeat against Germany. A historic 1-0 victory against South Korea and a win against Colombia allowed Morocco to overtake Germany, the 2nd world power. Morocco became the first Arab nation to progress through the group stage. It took a bit of luck and a lot of determination to finally reach the round of 16. The Moroccan selection has suddenly become the Cinderella team of this World Cup.
People weren’t waiting for them there, but the Moroccans were waiting for them there. We had seen what they had done at the African Cup of Nations. It was exceptional and it showed how she is trained and how she can go far, said Moroccan journalist Aziza Nait Sibaha.
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Moroccan players before a player against Germany, in July
Photo : Getty Images / Robert Cianflone
Despite the defeat against France in the round of 16, Morocco’s journey deserves to be highlighted. This performance is the result of efforts put in place to develop women’s soccer thanks in particular to major government investments and the support of King Mohammed VI.
This team is made up half of players from the national championship, mainly from AS FAR, which has been champion in Morocco for more than ten years, and the best players recruited in Europe, explains Aziza Nait Sibaha, in an interview on the show All one morning.
It all started with the Marshall Plan in Morocco in 2020, which aimed to develop women’s football. There has been an annual investment of 6 million euros. There is this academy for which 13 million have been invested since 2009. It is now starting to give results, adds the one who made a documentary on the Atlas Lionesses.
This academy evolves in the Mohammed IV complex, in Salé, near Rabat. These are state-of-the-art facilities that were built in 2009 with the goal of growing the sport in the country.
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The National Women’s Football League started in the 2020-21 season. There is a national division and a lower caliber regional level. Both leagues are fully funded by the government and the federation.
Still today, Morocco is the only country in the world to have two levels of professional women’s soccer.
With such investments, it feels like this is just the beginning for Morocco on the international soccer scene. The Atlas Lionesses have shown that they can compete with the best nations and from now on, they will be ones to watch at all major tournaments.
A glass ceiling was shattered. Women’s soccer is booming in Morocco. Suddenly, young girls are no longer talking only about Achraf Hakimi. They now have role models. This team has become a source of pride and inspiration for young Moroccan women.
It proves that sport has no gender, that women can find themselves in any profession, any sport, underlines Aziza Nait Sibaha
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