Morocco are willing to make a grand debut in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. The men’s side became the first African and Arabian country to reach the semi-finals of any World Cup in 2022 but the women’s team had their own remarkable moment in the same year. The Lionesses of Atlas received the silver medal at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the final for the first time in the competition. Both events will serve as a huge motivation for them on the big stage.
Qualification for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Reynald Pedros guided the Moroccans to the showpiece of the Women’s AFCON at their own ground with their qualification to their maiden Women’s World Cup alrready sealed after entering the semi-final stage. It was earned because four direct qualification slots are available for African nations in the finals. South Africa in the final of the competition was a close one with the hosts losing 2-1 with Rosella Ayane’s 80th-minute strike not enough to spark a late comeback.
Preparation for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Morocco played four friendlies in 2022 unable to win and losing three of them 4-0. Those defeats came against Poland, World Cup participants Canada and Ireland. The other friendly with the latter ended 2-2, the only time they managed to score in this period. This year the team started in a bright fashion registering clean sheets in victories over Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina with two plus goals. Then a run of six games without a win or scoring a goal derailed their momentum. There were some positives to take like holding the likes of Italy and Switzerland to goalless draws although the scoreless streak is a concern before the tournament.
Morocco Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Goalkeepers: Ines Arouaissa (Cannes), Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), Assia Zouhair (SCCM)
Defenders: Hanane Ait El Haj (AS FAR), Nouhaila Benzina (AS FAR), Nesryne El Chad (Lille), Rkia Mazroaui (Charleroi), Yasmine Mrabet (Levante), Zineb Redouani (AS FAR), Sabah Seghir (Napoli), Najat Badri (AS FAR),
Midfielders: Sarah Kassi (Fleury 91), Anissa Lahmari (Guingamp), Elodie Nakkach (Servette), Salma Amani (Metz), Sofia Bouftini (RS Berkane), Kenza Chapelle (Nantes)
Forwards: Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur), Fatima Gharbi (CE Europa), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al Ahli), Diki Sakina Ouzraoui (Club Bruges), Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR), Ghizlane Chebbak (AS FAR)
Head Coach: Reynald Pedros
Strength
Conceding few or no goals at all particularly against participating teams in the tournament shows the robustness of Morocco. They will not back down from a challenge and will make it even the shrewdest attacks work hard to beat them. The back four have players competing in the European leagues like Nesryne El Chad of Lille and Napoli’s Sabah Seghir. The pair will have the experience of handling big game pressure and get along with the intensity of matches.
Weakness
If the defence has provided fewer question marks this year, the threat on the other end has gradually diminished. This will be a major hurdle Pedros’ side have to think of a solution of. The team have plenty of firepower like Women’s AFCON player of the tournament Ghizlane Chebbak or Tottenham Hotspurs striker Rosella Ayane. The lack of service to them is proving costly with purely defensive-minded football being the problem.
Key Player: Ghizlane Chebbak
Top scorer for her nation and also earning the Golden Shoe at the AFCON, Chebbak is attempting to break the duck for her team in the Women’s World Cup and find that historic goal for jubilation. The 32-year-old will have also made the most appearance having capped 60 times for her country. The squad has every reason to be inspired by her who will lead the team at the biggest stage of all. She will receive necessary help from fellow forwards like Ayane, Metz’s Salma Amani and Nantes striker Kenza Chapelle to add themselves to the scoresheet.
How will Morocco Lineup at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023?
Morocco FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Groups & Fixtures
Group H
Colombia
Germany
South Korea
Morroco
Fixtures
Monday, 24 July 2023
Germany vs Morocco - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne (14:00)
Sunday, 30 July 2023
South Korea vs Morocco - Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide (10:00)
Thursday, 3 August 2023
Morocco vs Colombia - Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth (15:30)
Prediction
Morocco’s excellent efforts at the AFCON ignited the women’s football craze in the country and the craze doubled when they reach the Women’s World Cup for the first time. The support is going to be big from the nation like for the men’s team last year as the women’s team looks at a fairytale of their own. This will be a big motivation for them in the tournament to carry even if the group stages are the place they end. Fighting former champions Germany, Asian giants and the physical Colombia team is a gigantic battle that they will hope to manage with a steady head.
Note: All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
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