Latest news with #WAFCON
Morocco World
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco Prepares for 2024 WAFCON with Friendly Against Tanzania
Gummersbach – The Moroccan women's national football team steps onto the pitch this Saturday night in Rabat, where it faces Tanzania in a friendly match that marks the final stretch of preparations for the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The game begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Stadium. For head coach Jorge Vilda Rodriguez and his players, the match represents more than a test of form, it sets the tone ahead of a continental tournament that Morocco will host from July 5 to 26. On Wednesday, Vilda unveiled his final squad for the upcoming WAFCON. The head coach's team is composed of a mix of domestic and foreign-based talent. The players include Ghizlane Chebbak, goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi, and forward Fatima Tagnaout, among others. Jorge Vilda recently discussed his team's progress in an interview with CAFOnline. 'African football has immense potential,' Vilda stated. 'Everything is more and more balanced. The teams are preparing better, the national competitions are improving, the teams have better technical staff who help them to progress. We see more organized teams and, above all, with enormous physical potential.' The Atlas Lionesses are in Group A, alongside Zambia, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their first official match in the tournament will be against Zambia, set for Saturday, July 5, at 9:00 p.m. – a high-stakes opener that puts the host nation immediately under the spotlight. Group B brings together Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana. Group C features South Africa, Ghana, Mali and Tanzania, the latter of whom provides Morocco's opponent for this weekend's friendly. With expectations rising and the home crowd behind them, Morocco's players approach the final rehearsal knowing what lies ahead. A tournament on their soil, against the continent's best, and the chance to leave their mark on African football history. Tags: Atlas LionessesMoroccosportsWAFCON
CAF
21 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Women's AFCON: Teams land in Morocco as tournament nears kick-off
Africa's top women's football nations have begun arriving in Morocco ahead of the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with defending champions South Africa among the first to pitch camp. The tournament, which kicks off on 5 July and runs until 26 July 2025, will see twelve of the continent's finest sides competing across Moroccan cities in what promises to be a fiercely contested edition of the championship. Banyana Banyana, who clinched their maiden WAFCON title in Morocco in 2022, arrived in Casablanca on Wednesday after a demanding 24-hour journey from Johannesburg, including a layover in Ghana. Despite travel delays, the South Africans wasted no time, holding their first training session shortly after settling in. African champions Banyana Banyana departed for Morocco this afternoon ahead of their defense of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations title next month.#LiveTheImpossible @SABC_Sport — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) June 24, 2025 'It was a long and tiring trip, but we have arrived and nicely settled in, and we managed to have our first training session,' said head coach Dr Desiree Ellis. 'It's very exciting to be here to finally get started. There is a big tournament coming up and we have to be ready for it.' South Africa are drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, Mali and Tanzania. They open their title defence against the Black Queens of Ghana on 7 July, followed by fixtures against Tanzania (11 July) and Mali (14 July), all to be staged at Honneur Stadium in Oujda. Meanwhile, Zambia's Copper Queens are also intensifying preparations in Mohammédia. The team, led by coach Nora Häuptle, has been holding high-intensity sessions at the Lanoria Club, with both local and foreign-based players in camp. The Zambians face hosts Morocco in the tournament's opening match at the newly built Olympic Stadium in Rabat on 5 July. Zambia's group stage campaign continues with encounters against Senegal and DR Congo on 9 and 12 July, respectively, both at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammédia. Hosts Morocco remain camped in Rabat and will play a friendly against Tanzania at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday as part of their final preparations. The Lionesses, coached by Jorge Vilda Rodriguez, are also in Group A with Zambia, Senegal, and DR Congo. Senegal, for their part, have now departed for Morocco to begin their tournament build-up. Group B will feature continental heavyweights Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana. With the teams now assembling across the host nation, anticipation continues to build for the premier women's football event on the continent. All eyes will be on Morocco from next week, as the best of African women's football takes centre stage.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Banyana Banyana prepares for WAFCON defence amid endless challenges
Thembi Kgatlana Thembi Kgatlana's unexpected withdrawal from Banyana Banyana's Wafcon squad raises serious questions about the team's chances in the upcoming tournament. Photo: BackpagePix As the clock ticks down to the opening match of the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco next month, Banyana Banyana finds itself grappling with a series of hurdles that threaten its quest to retain the title. The team's preparation has been marred by unexpected challenges, starting notably with the withdrawal of star striker Thembi Kgatlana for undisclosed personal reasons. This is a blow that could significantly impact their offensive capabilities. Last week's scheduled send-off ceremony, intended to galvanise support and celebrate their accomplishments, disappointingly turned into a mere routine squad announcement. The lack of fanfare and recognition raises eyebrows about the level of support the team experiences as they head into such a critical tournament. Banyana will spend 12 days in Morocco before their opening game against Ghana on July 7. However, the team will not benefit from any warm-up matches during their time there, a decision that has raised concerns from Janine van Wyk, a respected former captain of the team. Van Wyk voiced her apprehension regarding the lack of preparation. "Banyana Banyana has shown they can defend their title, but the absence of friendly matches before the start of major tournaments is concerning," she said. Van Wyk emphasised the importance of such matches for team bonding and match fitness, proclaiming it essential for building chemistry among players, especially given the intensity and stakes of the tournament. Despite a positive outing at the Three Nations Challenge, where they faced off against Botswana and Zambia at the end of May, the overall preparation has been lacking. 'Our training and match readiness require further fine-tuning ahead of WAFCON,' Van Wyk explained. The journey to Morocco turned into a saga that tested their endurance and commitment. The journey from Johannesburg, which most certainly will not be forgotten soon, spanned over 24 hours, characterised by delayed flights and an unexpected layover in Ghana. The team left OR Tambo International Airport last Tuesday and arrived late the next day. The countdown to the tournament continues, and the added pressure of expectations mounts as the team rallies to overcome the odds stacked against them. Banyana Banyana's resolve will be tested to the full as they embark on this crucial chapter. The road to defending their crown is set with uncertainties, but their commitment and resilience have historically shone through in challenging times.
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Jorge Vilda Names Morocco Women's Squad for 2024 WAFCON Campaign
Marrakech – Jorge Vilda, head coach of Morocco's women's national football team, has unveiled his final squad for the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024. The announcement came during a press conference held Tuesday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé. The Atlas Lionesses, silver medalists in the 2022 continental tournament, will compete in Group A alongside Zambia, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As hosts, Morocco will play the opening match against Zambia at the recently inaugurated Olympic Stadium in Rabat on July 5. The tournament, scheduled to run from July 5-26 across Morocco, features 12 teams divided into three groups. Group B includes Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana, while Group C comprises South Africa, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania. Vilda's 26-player squad features a mix of domestic and foreign-based talent. The team is anchored by key players, including captain Ghizlane Chebbak (Levante/Spain), goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), and forward Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR). The squad selection follows Morocco's recent preparation matches against Cape Verde and Malawi, which ended in 1-0 and 4-1 victories, respectively. Full squad list Goalkeepers: Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), Ines Arouaissa (Saint Malo/France), Fatima Ezzahra El Jabraoui (Wydad Casablanca), Hind Hasnaoui (AS FAR) Defenders: Hanane Ait Elhaj (Valencia CF/Spain), Zineb Redouani (AS FAR), Sabah Seghir (FC Basel/Switzerland), Aziza Rabbah (AS FAR), Nouhaila Benzina (AS FAR), Siham Boukhami (AS FAR), Yasmin Mrabet (Valencia CF/Spain), Soumia Hady (Wydad Casablanca) Midfielders: Ghizlane Chebbak (Levante/Spain), Najat Badri (AS FAR), Elodie Nakkach (Al Ahly/Saudi Arabia), Salma Bouguerch (Wydad Casablanca), Anissa Lahmari (Levante/Spain), Sarah Kassi (Fleury 91/France), Imène El Ghazouani (Servette FC/Switzerland), Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR) Forwards: Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR), Sakina Ouzraoui Diki (UD Tenerife), Rania Boutiebi (Bruges/Belgium), Imane Saoud (Servette FC/Switzerland), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al Ahly/Saudi Arabia), Kenza Chapelle (Strasbourg/France) 'Our players will give everything' Vilda, who led Spain to the 2023 Women's World Cup title before taking charge of Morocco last November, spoke about his squad in a recent interview with CAFOnline. He noted the development of women's football across Africa. 'African football has immense potential,' Vilda stated. 'Everything is more and more balanced. The teams are preparing better, the national competitions are improving, the teams have better technical staff who help them to progress. We see more organized teams and, above all, with enormous physical potential.' The 43-year-old coach discussed his approach to building team cohesion despite having players from various leagues. 'The players are the ones who make things easy, because they arrive with a total commitment and commitment to the jersey, the coat of arms, the country. They come very motivated.' Regarding Group A, Vilda acknowledged the challenge ahead. 'I think it's the toughest group, because it's very balanced. We know Zambia well, we faced each other in Olympic qualifying. It's a team that has progressed a lot in the last year.' Rather than feeling pressure as tournament hosts and 2022 runners-up, Vilda sees opportunity. 'More than pressure, it's above all a great desire to do well. Of course, we put a certain amount of pressure on ourselves on a daily basis to work well. But it's not a negative pressure: it's a privilege to have that pressure.' His message to Moroccan fans was clear: 'We are not going to disappoint them. What I can guarantee 100% is that our players will give everything, fight for every ball, not just to win games, but for every action. That's the identity of this Moroccan team.' Read also: Jorge Vilda: 'Morocco Has the Best Squad I've Coached So Far' Tags: Jorge vildaWAFCONwomen national football team
CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
11 Days to Go Before the Women's AFCON: More Nations, Greater Ambitions
Published: Tuesday, 24 June 2025 With just 11 days to go until kick-off, invites you to look back at some of the landmark moments of a tournament poised to celebrate its 1"th edition. Among the most significant recent developments is the tournament's expansion to 12 teams in 2022—a decisive shift in the evolution of women's football on the continent. Women's Africa Cup of Nations: 11 Days to Go Long limited to an eight-team format, the Women's Africa Cup of Nations entered a new era in 2022 with its expansion to 12 nations. Spearheaded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), this structural reform was driven by a desire to foster greater inclusion, competitiveness, and visibility for the women's game across Africa. This transformation aligns with the 2021–2025 action plan unveiled by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe during the Ordinary General Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2021. At the time, the South African leader made his ambitions clear: 'This is a commitment to the players, to the young girls who dare to dream, and to all those investing in the future of women's football in Africa.' The move to a 12-team format paved the way for emerging nations to make their debut on the continental stage. In 2022, Burundi, Botswana, Burkina Faso and Togo all took part in their first-ever WAFCON—a historic opening that significantly raised the overall level of the competition. The new structure, built around three groups of four teams, offers a more intense first round. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, advance to the quarter-finals. The result: more matches, increased playing time, and an environment conducive to technical and tactical development. On the pitch, the 2022 edition hosted by Morocco proved a turning point. Four teams—Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria and Zambia—secured direct qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, a strong statement of intent from a continent on the rise. The results followed: three of those nations—Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa—reached the Round of 16, a historic feat for African women's football on the global stage.
