Latest news with #CAFWomen'sAfricaCupofNations
CAF
a day ago
- Sport
- CAF
D-9 to the Women's AFCON: Ghizlane Chebbak, In Her Father's Name
Published: Thursday, 26 June 2025 The countdown to the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations has officially begun. On this occasion, invites you to relive some of the most memorable moments of the competition, which is set to celebrate its 13th edition. Today, we highlight the emotional tribute paid by Ghizlane Chebbak to her father, Larbi, throughout the 2022 Women's AFCON. Only 9 days to go until the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024. Judging by her oriented controls, her sense of positioning and her vision of the game, Ghizlane Chebbak leaves no doubt: she is the daughter of Larbi Chebbak, former Moroccan international and 1976 African champion with the Atlas Lions. Two years before the final in Rabat, Larbi passed away, leaving behind an immense legacy and a daughter determined to keep it alive, with the ball at his feet. Throughout the tournament, Ghizlane has not stopped paying tribute to him, publicly and silently. Captain of the Atlas Lionesses, she led her team to a historic first final, scoring three goals and multiplying high-level performances. "I think about him every game. He would have been so proud to see what we accomplished. I play for him, for his memory, and to honour the name I bear," she said after the semi-final win against Nigeria. Her tournament ended with a rare emotion: voted best player of the 2022 AFCON, Ghizlane received her trophy in tears, raised her eyes to the sky, then whispered a few words: "It's for you, dad." Beyond the filial symbol, Ghizlane Chebbak has become the face of a Morocco on the rise in women's football, and an ambassador of a legacy that she brilliantly extends. The message of a player who has become an icon: playing for your country is also about honouring those who have made history before us.
CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
D-12 WAFCON : Asisat Oshoala, an icon born on the lawns of the 2014 AFCON
As the excitement builds for the 13th edition of the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, invites you to look back at some of the most memorable moments in the tournament's rich history. Among them, the 2014 edition stands out as the stage where a future superstar emerged: Asisat Oshoala. Just 12 Days to Go Until the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 While Nigeria's name is already etched in gold in the tournament's record books, it was in 2014 that a new name burst onto the scene and never looked back. That of a 20-year-old forward—relatively unknown at the time—who left an indelible mark on the tournament hosted in Namibia. That edition proved to be her springboard. Leading the line for the Super Falcons, Asisat Oshoala scored four goals, provided key assists, and quickly established herself as the most influential player of the tournament. In the final, she helped Nigeria defeat Cameroon 2-0 to lift the title—Nigeria's seventh Women's AFCON crown. Oshoala, for her part, was named the tournament's Best Player. Even before dazzling in Namibia, she had shaken the global football world at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, where she scored seven goals and won both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball. '2014 changed the course of my life,' she later said. 'It was my first major senior tournament, and that's when I realized I could become one of the best.' An Unstoppable Rise Eleven years on, Asisat Oshoala has become the face of African women's football. She holds a record six CAF Women's Player of the Year titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023)—a remarkable achievement. But these awards have never been empty accolades; everywhere she has played, the former Rivers Angels striker has left a lasting impact. She made her European debut with Liverpool before joining Arsenal, and in 2019, she took a major leap by signing with FC Barcelona. In Catalonia, her game matured further: she won the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2021, becoming the first African woman to score in a final. A year later, she finished as joint top scorer in Spain's Liga F with 20 goals. 'I represent something bigger than myself,' she said in 2022 when extending her contract with Barça. 'I know that thousands of young girls across Africa are watching me.' Her national team record commands respect: three Women's AFCON titles (2014, 2016, 2018), over 30 international goals, and rare longevity at the highest level. She has played in three FIFA Women's World Cups, scoring in each edition. In 2023, against Australia, she became the first African player to score in three different Women's World Cups—a composed finish that perfectly encapsulated her journey. As the 2024 Women's AFCON approaches, Asisat Oshoala is preparing to take part in her fifth continental finals. A rare level of consistency, matching her immense talent. In 2014, she conquered Africa. Ten years later, she returns as an icon.
