Vilda: ‘The Players Kept the Score Intact Against a Strong Opponent' in WAFCON Group Stage
The result sends the Atlas Lionesses through to the quarter-finals as group leaders, edging Zambia on goal difference.
Coach Jorge Vilda, addressing the media after the match, commended his players for their discipline and unity. 'The defensive line did its job. They kept the score intact against a strong side,' he said.
'We pushed forward and created chances. We could have scored more, but what mattered was keeping control and protecting the lead.'
Vilda explained that his team focused on possession and collective play throughout the match.
'We made a few adjustments to stay sharp. The idea was to play as one and not lose sight of our objective,' he added. 'The road is still long, but this victory keeps our momentum alive.'
Aziza Rabbah, who earned the player of the match award, echoed her coach's thoughts. 'We faced difficult matches throughout the group stage. But with determination and good football, we reached the quarter-finals,' she said.
'Senegal gave us our hardest game . It was decisive, but we came out with three points and kept first place.'
Rabbah credited the team's spirit for the win. 'We never gave up. We stayed aggressive and held our advantage.'
'The match against Senegal wasn't easy, and the next one won't be either. We have to give it our all if we want to keep winning,' said Ghizlane Chebbak, the team captain.
Morocco now advances with seven points, level with Zambia but ahead on goal difference. Tags: Atlas LionessesMoroccoVildaWAFCON
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
17 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Morocco advances to Women's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with victory over Senegal
The Moroccan national team displayed remarkable resilience to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), defeating Senegal 1-0 on Saturday evening at Rabat's Olympic Stadium, in their final Group A match. From the outset, the Atlas Lionesses took control of the game with aggressive wing play, while remaining anchored defensively to contain any Senegalese counterattacks. Senegal created an early threat through Nguenar Ndiaye in the 16th minute, but Morocco quickly regained the upper hand. Ibtissam Jraïdi nearly opened the scoring a minute later, but her shot was cleared off the line by the Senegalese defense. Led by captain Ghizlane Chebbak, the Moroccan side maintained pressure with well-placed through balls that disrupted Senegal's defensive line, though they struggled to convert their chances. The breakthrough came just before halftime when Senegalese goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye brought down Ibtissam Jraïdi in the box. Yasmin Mrabet calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 45+2 minute, giving Morocco a deserved lead. After the break, Jorge Vilda's squad pushed for a second goal. Substitutes like Imane Saoud, who replaced Sakina Ouzraoui, added fresh energy. Morocco came close through Jraïdi (69'), Fatima Tagnaout (71'), and Élodie Nakkach (73'), but the Senegalese defense held firm. At the other end, veteran goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi stood tall, notably denying a dangerous set piece from Marième Babou in the 68th minute. With this win, Morocco finishes top of Group A with seven points, edging Zambia on goal difference. Zambia also won their final match, beating DR Congo 1-0 in Mohammedia, thanks to a 9th-minute goal from Racheal Kundananji.
Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Morocco World
Vilda: ‘The Players Kept the Score Intact Against a Strong Opponent' in WAFCON Group Stage
Rabat – Morocco's women's national football team closed the group stage of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a narrow 1-0 win over Senegal on Saturday in Rabat. The result sends the Atlas Lionesses through to the quarter-finals as group leaders, edging Zambia on goal difference. Coach Jorge Vilda, addressing the media after the match, commended his players for their discipline and unity. 'The defensive line did its job. They kept the score intact against a strong side,' he said. 'We pushed forward and created chances. We could have scored more, but what mattered was keeping control and protecting the lead.' Vilda explained that his team focused on possession and collective play throughout the match. 'We made a few adjustments to stay sharp. The idea was to play as one and not lose sight of our objective,' he added. 'The road is still long, but this victory keeps our momentum alive.' Aziza Rabbah, who earned the player of the match award, echoed her coach's thoughts. 'We faced difficult matches throughout the group stage. But with determination and good football, we reached the quarter-finals,' she said. 'Senegal gave us our hardest game . It was decisive, but we came out with three points and kept first place.' Rabbah credited the team's spirit for the win. 'We never gave up. We stayed aggressive and held our advantage.' 'The match against Senegal wasn't easy, and the next one won't be either. We have to give it our all if we want to keep winning,' said Ghizlane Chebbak, the team captain. Morocco now advances with seven points, level with Zambia but ahead on goal difference. Tags: Atlas LionessesMoroccoVildaWAFCON
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Secures WAFCON Quarterfinal Spot with 1-0 Win Against Senegal
Rabat – Morocco defeated Senegal to reach the quarter-finals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), currently taking place in Morocco. Morocco strengthened its position with a well-deserved victory tonight against Senegal. The Atlas Lionesses have been dominating the ball with ball possession and attempts, but were unable to score their first goal until through a penalty before the end of the first half of the game. Yassmine Mrabet scored the first goal for the Atlas Lionesses in the 45th game. The penalty came after a violent incident in the box, where Aziza Rabbah was struck in the face by the Senegalese goalkeeper's elbow. After a VAR review confirmed the foul, the referee ultimately decided to grant Morocco a penalty. The Atlas Lionesses delivered a dominant and persistent performance, with Chebbak leading a determined squad that controlled much of the game. The Atlas Lionesses missed at least four clear chances to score. Morocco ended their first phase of the competition with seven points. Morocco's campaign began dramatically, with the Atlas Lionesses trailing in the first half of their opening match against Zambia. However, the Lionesses showed resilience and bounced back with two goals, ending the match in a 2-2 draw. In their second matchday against DR Congo, Morocco won 4-2. Morocco is hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the second time in a row, with the 2024 edition running from 5 to 26 July. The Atlas Lionesses, runners-up in 2022 on home soil, return this year with eyes on the prize. The development of women's football in Morocco has been remarkable in recent years. King Mohammed VI has personally invested in the sport's growth and aims to transform it from the grassroots up, in the hope of positioning the country as a leader across Africa. Clubs such as AS FAR and FUS Rabat are at the forefront, with more teams launching women's sections in response to growing demand. This WAFCON stands to inspire a new generation of Moroccan girls to take football seriously. Aymen Alami contributed to this report.
