Latest news with #GhizlaneChebbak
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2024 Women's AFCON: Here is the tournament's best XI
CAF unveils its Team of the Tournament, dominated by Nigerian players, the champions of the competition. Esther Okoronkwo / @CAFwomen The Confederation of African Football unveiled on July 28, 2025, the Best XI of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, following the tournament held in Morocco. Nigeria, the tournament winner, and South Africa, a semifinalist, lead this selection of players honored for their consistent performances. Nigeria, crowned African champion, and South Africa, semifinalist, share most of the spots in the 2024 Women's AFCON Team of the Tournament. Four Nigerian players and three South Africans make the cut. Morocco and Ghana round out the eleven with two representatives each. Between the posts, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie claims the top spot after recording four clean sheets and conceding only three goals in six matches. The defense is anchored by South Africans Karabo Dhlamini and Bambanani Mbane, Ghanaian Portia Boakye, and Nigeria's Michelle Alozie. In midfield, CAF selected South Africa's Refiloe Jane, Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak—the tournament's top scorer with five goals—and Ghana's Grace Asantewaa. Up front, Moroccan striker Ibtissam Jraidi leads the line, flanked by two Nigerians: Rashidat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo.
Morocco World
8 hours ago
- Sport
- 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
The Herald
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Nigeria come from two down to be crowned African champions
Nigeria staged a remarkable fightback from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 and win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. It was a record-extending 10th triumph for Nigeria, confirming their status as the most successful women's team in Africa. Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade Ijamilusi led the fight back at Rabat's Stade Olympique before substitute Jennifer Echegini swept home an 88th-minute winner. Morocco skipper Ghizlane Chebbak and dribbling winger Sanaa Mssoudy scored in the first half-hour to see the home team take a surprise lead as they sought to become only the fourth country to take the continental title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. A capacity crowd saw Chebbak increase her tournament tally to five goals as she fired home from the edge of the area in the 12th minute after Nigeria had failed to clear properly. Mssoudy's goal came 12 minutes later, after Morocco striker Ibtissam Jraidi had crashed into centre back Marvis Ohale and the ball spilt out for Mssoudy to cut in and finish, but the referee determined there was no foul play and let the second goal stand. Nigeria dominated play thereafter and forced a succession of set pieces but it took some good fortune to begin their comeback.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nigeria crowned African football queens after 3-2 comeback against Morocco
Nigeria staged a remarkable fightback from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 and win their 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Saturday. The triumph by the Super Falcons in Rabat confirmed the West Africans as the queens of women's football in Africa as they pulled off a record-extending 10th title in 13 editions. Morocco's Atlas Lionesses led 2-0 at the break thanks to skipper Ghizlane Chebbak's fine curling effort and a shot from dribbling winger Sanaa Mssoudy. But the West Africans dominated in the second half, with Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade Ijamilusi leading the fight back at Rabat's Stade Olympique. Okoronkwo pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, then squared for Ijamilusi to equalise in the 71st minute. Morocco were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes remaining in a contentious handball call but it was overturned after the referee was asked to review. The home team were then caught out as substitute Jennifer Echegeni scored the winner just two minutes before end of play. Morocco skipper Chebbak tells of pride at changing perceptions at Cup of Nations 'Indomitable Nigerian spirit' Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, congratulated the Super Falcons for their "landmark victory". "It is not just another trophy; it is a testament to your hard work, consistency, and the indomitable Nigerian spirit. We thank God for this sweet victory,' she said in a message relayed by Voice of Nigeria. 'You have once again lifted the pride of our dear nation, Nigeria and cemented your place as Queens of African football. On behalf of Nigerian women and the entire nation, I thank you for making us proud." Nigeria have now won 10 of the 13 editions of the tournament and re-established their continental dominance after having ceded the title to South Africa at the last edition in 2022. Magaia's brace gives South Africa first Cup of Nations title at Morocco's expense Ghana in third place On Friday, Ghana finished third, winning a penalty shootout 4-3 against outgoing champions South Africa after a 1-1 play-off draw in regular time in Casablanca. Victory was particularly sweet for the Black Queens as they were outplayed when losing 2-0 to Banyana Banyana (The Girls) in the group stage. Ghana have won the four third place play-offs they qualified for while South Africa have lost four of five bronze medals matches. The next Wafcon is scheduled for March 2026, also in Morocco, and will double as a qualifying competition for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. (with newswires)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ghizlane Chebbak: A player born into Moroccan soccer greatness but writing her own story
A sea of red emerged beneath a white cloud. A deafening din filled the air. Thunderclaps of noise punctuated the swelling overtures, accompanied by flashes of red light. This was not some biblical storm, but the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, as 45,000 Moroccans — many armed with flares and smoke bombs — encircled the pristine green of its pitch. It was a colosseum, and there was only one gladiator that they had come to see. As the Atlas Lionesses took to the field against South Africa in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, the roar of support reached a crescendo as the crowd started chanting, 'Cheb-bak! Cheb-bak! Cheb-bak!' Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak helped capture the hearts of a nation during their run to that final, and despite losing 2-1 in that match, she finished WAFCON 2022 as both its joint-top scorer (three goals) and having been voted player of the tournament. She went from relatively unknown to hard to ignore. Her story is intertwined with that of women's football in the country. Morocco qualified for their first WAFCON since 2000 when the country was chosen to host Africa's premier competition three years ago. But their rise has been exponential. They have gone from complete obscurity to reaching consecutive WAFCON finals — with a World Cup knockout-phase appearance in between. Chebbak, meanwhile, was born to footballing greatness. Her father, Larbi, also played for Morocco and was part of the 1976 side that won the North African nation's sole AFCON title to date. His success in football led him to the counter-cultural belief that Ghizlane should play it, too. He was her biggest fan. 'She inherited all the technique from him and is the only one among her brothers who plays (professional) football,' Abdellah Hidamou, who was Chebbak's coach for six years earlier in her career, tells The Athletic. Like many Moroccans, Chebbak honed that technique on the streets of Casablanca, its biggest city, and like many of the players at WAFCON 2025, she started out playing at a boys' club. At the age of 13, she was competing in senior women's football and made her Morocco debut at 17. After a brief stint in Egypt — cut short by the Arab Spring, a series of pro-democracy uprisings across that region — Chebbak returned home in 2012 and signed for the ASFAR club in Rabat, just four years after a national women's league was launched in Morocco. 'What I always remember about Chebbak is how she stood out when she joined us,' says Bahia El Yahmidi, head of women's football at ASFAR and the woman who brought Chebbak to the club. 'Even though there were older players on the team, Chebbak was the one who quickly showed real seriousness and commitment. 'Chebbak is the leader of the group. The star, both on and off the pitch.' To say Chebbak dominated the Moroccan league would be an understatement. In the 12 years she was at ASFAR, she won 10 titles, was the league's player of the season three times and finished as its top scorer on six occasions, including one where she racked up 54 goals… in just 20 appearances. In 2020, at the behest of King Mohamed VI, the monarch of Morocco, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) transformed its approach to women's football. The plan saw the FMRF's budget for it jump from less than $1million to $65m overnight. That support has propelled Morocco from the fringes of African women's football to its heart — at both club and international levels. The culmination of that investment was to bring the continental tournament to the country. The opening game of that 2022 WAFCON on home soil was an emotional occasion for Chebbak. Morocco beat Burkina Faso 1-0 via a goal she scored, but her joy was mingled with sorrow. Dad Larbi, her greatest supporter and inspiration, was not there to see it. He had passed away in 2020, aged 73. He got to see his daughter become a professional footballer, but not her transformation into a superstar. 'I always think about my father and his advice, because he was always my first supporter,' Chebbak told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after that tournament three years ago. 'On the day of the opening match, I experienced things that I had never experienced before: a stadium full of fans and football lovers. Most people knew my father. So I did my best to pay tribute to him and to make my country proud. I am living a dream.' She did just that, earning her team a phone call from King Mohamed VI after their loss in the final. 'It was a bliss to listen to the king's voice on the phone with him congratulating us,' says El Yahmidi, who was with the players when they received that call. 'It's really something that every Moroccan would like to experience, listening, from the king's mouth, to the word 'Congratulations'. 'It was an honour for everyone. It was something inexplicable. It was magical!' A stroll down virtually any city across the country after that tournament featured Chebbak's image as she became the face of one of Morocco's telecom companies, alongside men's internationals Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech. In a country where, before 2022, the majority of the population wouldn't have even known they had a women's team, that type of exposure for a player was previously unimaginable. Chebbak followed that WAFCON by leading Morocco to their first Women's World Cup the following year. After the pain of an opening 6-0 defeat against Germany, they recovered to beat South Korea and Colombia, becoming the first Arab or North African nation to reach the knockout phase of that tournament. Last year, Chebbak signed for Levante Badalona in Spain's top-flight Liga F, making her the first Moroccan to move from a domestic club to a European one. 'She was always the first to initiate donation drives for team staff; drivers, cooks and the kit manager. People who don't have high incomes or financial bonuses,' remembers Hidamou. 'She wasn't just a leader on the field, but off it too.' Now the 34-year-old Chebbak is back on home soil, leading her country to another continental final while playing her best football. She has already surpassed her three goals from the last tournament, scoring four times. Morocco, host nation again, face a tough test back at the Moulay Abdellah tonight (Saturday) against nine-time African champions Nigeria, but they aren't completely infallible. One of the teams Chebbak scored against — a penalty in a semi-final shootout — to reach the same stage in 2022 was… Nigeria. They are now driven by thoughts of revenge and a desire to bring home a record-extending tenth title – dubbed Mission X. Though her father isn't around to see it, Chebbak could carry on his legacy by winning a first WAFCON for the nation tonight, in the process making theirs the first inter-generational family to lift the men's and women's Africa Cup of Nations. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Morocco, International Football, Women's Soccer 2025 The Athletic Media Company
