Vilda: Atlas Lioness Ready for High-Stakes Women's AFCON Semi-Final
Vilda highlighted the mental resilience and hard work of the Atlas Lionesses, who have been preparing intensively for two months. He also noted that playing at home, in front of Moroccan fans at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, could give his team an extra edge. 'The players have already faced strong, physically demanding opponents in the group stage, and they are prepared to give everything on the field tomorrow,' he added.
Striker Ibtissam Jraidi, who was named player of the match in Morocco's 3-1 quarter-final win over Mali , echoed her coach's confidence. 'We know this will be a tough match, but we are aware of the responsibility we carry,' she said. 'Individual awards don't matter as much — what counts is helping the team win and reach the final.'
On the other side, Ghana's head coach Kim Bjorkegren acknowledged the challenge his team faces against the hosts. 'This will probably be our toughest match of the tournament,' he admitted. 'We have to recover quickly after our quarter-final against Algeria, but we'll fight for our chance and hope our preparations pay off.'
The Morocco-Ghana semi-final kicks off Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. at the Rabat Olympic Stadium. Earlier in the day, Nigeria and South Africa will meet in the second semi-final at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca at 5:00 p.m.
The winners of both matches will advance to the WAFCON final, while the losing teams will meet in the third-place playoff. Tags: morocco ghanawafcon 2025WAFCON Morocco
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
8 hours ago
- Morocco World
Morocco File Formal Referee Complaint After WAFCON Final Loss to Nigeria
Morocco's football federation has lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over what it described as 'refereeing injustices' during the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said the match official failed to award a clear penalty in the 82nd minute, with the score level at 2-2. Video footage showed a potential handball by a Nigerian defender, but after a VAR check, the referee waved play on. Morocco's coaching staff and players expressed frustration immediately after the incident. The federation claims the decision altered the course of the match, which Nigeria went on to win 3-2. Speaking after the match, Moroccan head coach Jorge Vilda said: 'It was a small detail that cost us the game,' referring to the penalty decision. Vilda, usually reserved on refereeing matters, added that fatigue played a key role in his side's second-half collapse. Nigeria's coach, Justine Madugu, credited Morocco for a dominant first half and said tactical adjustments at half-time proved decisive. 'The players who came off the bench made the difference,' he said. 'Morocco have a promising future.' The final, held at Rabat's Olympic Stadium, was a tightly contested match. Morocco led 2-1 at the break, but Nigeria rallied in the second half to claim their record-extending 10th title. The tournament marked Morocco's second-ever appearance in a WAFCON final. Ghana secured third place after beating South Africa on penalties in Casablanca. After the heartbreaking loss, King Mohammed VI congratulated the Moroccan team in a statement, praising their spirit and performance. He also commended the organisation of the tournament and the strong attendance across venues. Tags: MoroccoWAFCONWOmen's Africa Cup of Nations
Ya Biladi
8 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
AS FAR Rabat confuses KAA Gent with Genk in announcement of Hatim Es-Saouabi's transfer
Estimated read time: 1' Belgian club KAA Gent has officially signed Moroccan defender Hatim Es-Saouabi from AS FAR Rabat. The news was announced on Thursday, July 24, by Gent, which wrote on X: «Hatim in the house». However, an earlier post by his former club briefly caused confusion over his destination. On July 17, AS FAR Rabat announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Es-Saouabi was heading to KRC Genk, despite there being no concrete interest from the Limburg-based club. Hatim Essaouabi Joins KRC Genk ✅ ? We wish Hatim Saouabi all the best in his new professional journey with Belgium's KRC Genk after a final agreement was reached between all parties. ?⚫️ @asfarofficiel ?⚪ @KRCGenkofficial #Transfers #Mercato #ASFAR #KRCGenk — Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales (@ASFAR_Officiel) July 17, 2025 In the end, it was Gent that finalized the deal and secured the player. Interestingly, the error was not repeated on AS FAR's Facebook account. This isn't the first time Genk and Gent have been mistaken for one another. Back in 2019, two Liverpool fans famously traveled to Ghent instead of Genk for a Champions League match, only realizing the error half an hour before kickoff.
Morocco World
10 hours ago
- Morocco World
Moroccan Duo and Nigerian Quartet Dominate WAFCON Best XI
The CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Team of the Tournament has been released, featuring standout performances across the continent – led by Moroccan and Nigerian stars. Morocco placed two players in the Best XI. Ghizlane Chebbak earned her spot after scoring five goals and claiming the Golden Boot, with a hat-trick against DR Congo during the group stage. Ibtissam Jraidi was also selected as a forward for her relentless movement and threat up front throughout the competition. The stars who shined the brightest. ⭐ Meet your Best XI of the Tournament!#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 — CAF Women's Football (@CAFwomen) July 28, 2025 Nigeria, champions after a 3–2 comeback in the final, had four players included. Chiamaka Nnadozie was the tournament's Best Goalkeeper and anchors the XI. Rasheedat Ajibade, named Player of the Tournament, features alongside Esther Okoronkwo, who scored the winner in the final. Michelle Alozie, a dynamic defender, completes the Nigerian representation. Other players honoured include South Africa's Karabo Dhlamini, Bambanani Mbane, and Refiloe Jane, who excelled in defence and midfield for the fourth-placed side. Ghana's Grace Asantewaa and Portia Boakye also made the XI following their third-place finish via penalty shootout over South Africa. The final in Rabat was memorable. Morocco led 2–0 at half-time through Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy, but Nigeria responded in the second half. A penalty in the 64th minute, followed by an equaliser in the 77th, set the stage for Jennifer Echegini's 88th-minute winner. Morocco coach Jorge Vilda criticised a VAR decision that overturned a late penalty, telling ESPN: 'We can't understand the decision… She gave a penalty, but then the images we saw were not the same as those presented to the referee.' Nigeria coach Justine Madugu, later named Best Coach, credited halftime adjustments for the comeback: 'If they didn't have mental resilience, they would have given up… We did a lot of talking at halftime.' This is Nigeria's 10th WAFCON title as both nations reinforce their dominance in women's football in Africa. Tags: GhanaMorocconigeriaSouth AfricaWOmen's Africa Cup of Nations
