Morocco women's national football team
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| Nickname(s) | لبؤات أطلس (Lionesses of Atlas) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Royal Moroccan Football Federation | ||
| Head coach | Reynald Pedros | ||
| Captain | Ghizlane Chebbak | ||
| Top scorer | Ghizlane Chebbak (17) | ||
| Home stadium | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | MAR | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 73 | ||
| Highest | 52 (July 2003) | ||
| Lowest | 92 (2009) | ||
| First international | |||
(Pretoria, South Africa; 5 July 1998) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
(Alexandria, Egypt; 23 April 2006) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
(Kaduna, Nigeria; 17 October 1998) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) | ||
| Best result | TBD | ||
| Women's Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Appearances | 4 (first in 1998) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (2022) | ||
The Morocco women's national football team (Arabic: منتخب المغرب لكرة القدم للسيدات, French: Équipe du Maroc féminine de football) represents Morocco in international women's football and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The team played its first international match in 1998, as part of the third Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
The traditional rivals of Morocco are mainly Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.
History
After being given a walkover following Kenya's withdrawal from the 1998 Championship, the team made it to the finals in Nigeria, where they lost 0–8 to the hosts before beating Egypt 4–1. Morocco met fellow Women's African Football Championship debutants Democratic Republic of the Congo in the final group game, with both teams having the chance to qualify for the semi-finals with a win. However, the eventual 0–0 draw sent Morocco out, as Congo qualified on better goal difference.[2]
Two years later, Morocco qualified for the African Championship in South Africa with a 6–1 aggregate victory over Algeria. However, after the team scored the first goal against Cameroon in the opening group stage match, they went on to concede 13 goals, lose all three matches, and finish last in the group.[3]
Their 2002 and 2006 campaigns were both stopped by Mali in the qualifying stages. Morocco had been seeded into the second qualifying round, but two goalless draws in Bamako and Rabat sent the tie into a penalty shoot-out which Mali won 5–4.[4] In 2004, Morocco did not enter, while a 1–6 aggregate defeat to Mali sent them out of the 2006 African Championship and the 2007 World Cup.
New era (2020–present)
On 22 February 2020, Morocco lionesses managed to win the 2020 UNAF Women's Cup after defeating Algeria 2-0 to top the final standings.[5][6]
After hiatus and lack of achievement, the Women's AFCON was expanded to 12 teams, starting from 2020, but due to COVID-19 pandemic, the first edition was held in Morocco 2022 instead.[7] Using this home advantage, Morocco restarted its women's football structure, rebuilt its women's team that has long been neglected. With greater interest, Morocco was able to create history by reaching the semi-finals in their home soil.[8][9] With this achievement, Morocco made a historic chapter as the first Arab country to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup,[10][11] when the country is set to debut in 2023.[12][13] Morocco went on to make another historic chapter as the first North African and Arab country to participate in the final of a continental tournament by beating African powerhouse and three-times defending champions Nigeria on penalties.[14][15] However, Morocco could not finish its dream in the final after losing to an experienced South African side, whose two goals crushed the Moroccan dream to win the title.[16][17]
Team image
Nicknames
The Morocco women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Atlas Lionesses".[18][19]
Home stadium
Morocco play their home matches at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, a facility of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The stadium is also the home of AS FAR and hosts several matches of the men's team. It is located in Rabat, Morocco.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2022
| 11 June International Friendly | Morocco | 7–0 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 GMT+1 | Report | Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium |
| 18 June International Friendly | Morocco | 1–1 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 GMT+1 | Zulu |
Report | Chanda |
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium |
| 23 June International Friendly | Morocco | 0–0 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 GMT+1 | Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium |
| 2 July 2022 2022 AFWCON GS | Morocco | 1–0 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:30 |
|
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda) |
| 5 July 2022 2022 AFWCON GS | Uganda | 1–3 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 |
|
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Vincentia Amedome (Togo) |
| 8 July 2022 2022 AFWCON GS | Morocco | 1–0 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 | Chebbak |
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa) |
| 13 July 2022 2022 WAFCON QF | Morocco | 2–1 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Vincentia Amedome (Togo) |
| 18 July 2022 2022 AFWCON SF | Morocco | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 |
|
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius) | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 22 July 2022 2022 AFWCON F | Morocco | 1–2 | | Rabat, Morocco |
| 21:00 |
|
|
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda) |
| 6 October International Friendly | Poland | 4–0 | | Jerez, Spain |
|
Report | Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Chapín |
| 10 October International Friendly | Canada | 4–0 | | Jerez, Spain |
| Report | Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Chapín |
| 11 November International Friendly | Republic of Ireland | 2–2 | | San Pedro Alcántara, Spain |
2023
| 17 February International Friendly | Slovakia | 0–3 | | Antalya, Turkey |
| Report |
| 21 February International Friendly | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0–2 | | Antalya, Turkey |
| 15:00 UTC+1 | Report |
|
| 6 April International Friendly | Czech Republic | 2–0 | | Chomutov, Czechia |
| 20:30 UTC+1 |
|
Stadium: Letní stadion |
| 11 April International Friendly | Romania | 1–0 | | Bucharest, Romania |
| 17:30 |
| 1 July International Friendly | Italy | v | | TBC, Italy |
| 5 July International Friendly | Switzerland | v | | TBC, Switzerland |
| 24 July 2023 FIFA WC GS | Germany | v | | Melbourne, Australia |
| Report | Stadium: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium |
| 30 July 2023 FIFA WC GS | South Korea | v | | Adelaide, Australia |
| Report | Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 3 August 2023 FIFA WC GS | Morocco | v | | Perth, Australia |
| Report | Stadium: Perth Rectangular Stadium |
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
| Position | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | [21] | |
Manager history
Kelly Lindsey (2020)[22]
Reynald Pedros (2020–)[23]
Players
Current squad
- This is the final Squad named in April 2023 for two friendly game against
Czech Republic and
Romania .[24]
Caps and goals accurate up to and including 22 April 2021.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Khadija Er-Rmichi | 16 September 1989 | |||
| 12 | GK | Assia Zouhair | 30 April 1991 | |||
| GK | Inès Arouaissa | 30 June 2001 | ||||
| 14 | DF | Maryame Atiq | 24 January 1998 | |||
| 2 | DF | Zineb Redouani | 12 June 2000 | |||
| 15 | DF | Ghizlane Chhiri | 11 September 1994 | |||
| 5 | DF | Nesryne El Chad | 13 March 2003 | |||
| 13 | DF | Sabah Seghir | 27 September 2000 | 7 | 1 | |
| 21 | DF | Yasmin Mrabet | 8 August 1999 | |||
| 20 | DF | Fatima El Ghazouani | 11 May 2005 | |||
| 14 | DF | Rkia Mazrouai | 11 May 2002 | |||
| 4 | DF | Nouhaïla Benzina | 11 May 1998 | |||
| 6 | MF | Élodie Nakkach | 20 January 1995 | |||
| 8 | MF | Salma Amani | 28 November 1989 | |||
| 7 | MF | Ghizlane Chebbak (captain) | 19 February 1991 | 56 | 21 | |
| 15 | MF | Kawtar Ait Omar | 19 February 2004 | |||
| 15 | MF | Ibtissam Bouharat | 2 January 1990 | 2 | 1 | |
| 4 | MF | Siham Boukhami | 1 February 1992 | |||
| 23 | FW | Rosella Ayane | 16 March 1996 | 15 | 7 | |
| 11 | FW | Fatima Tagnaout | 20 January 1999 | 6 | 2 | |
| 18 | FW | Sakina Ouzraoui | 29 August 2001 | |||
| 25 | FW | Anissa Belkasmi | 9 July 2002 | |||
| 24 | FW | Sofia Bouftini | 25 January 2002 | |||
| 20 | FW | Imane Saoud | 6 June 2002 | 2 | 1 | |
| FW | Yasmine Zouhir | 16 July 2005 | ||||
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Zineb El Arari | 28 November 1999 | v. | |||
| GK | Kaoutar Bentaleb | 28 June 1999 | v. | |||
| GK | Imane Abdelahad | 21 July 1994 | v. | |||
| GK | Hind Hesnaoui | 13 September 1996 | 1 | 0 | 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations | |
| DF | Éva Allice | 2 January 2002 | 2 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Marwa Hassani | 15 September 2002 | v. | |||
| DF | Samia Fikri | 2 August 1999 | v. | |||
| DF | Aziza Rabbah | 4 July 1986 | 2 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Samya Masnaoui | 16 September 2005 | v. | |||
| MF | Nour Imane Addi | 10 June 1997 | v. | |||
| MF | Hajar Jbilou | 28 August 1999 | v. | |||
| MF | Sana Daoudi | 12 March 1998 | v. | |||
| MF | Najat Badri | 19 May 1988 | v. | |||
| FW | Ibtissam Jraïdi | 9 December 1992 | v. | |||
| FW | Hanane Aït El Haj | 2 November 1994 | 6 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Fatima Zohra Gharbi | 15 May 2001 | v. | |||
| FW | Imène El Ghazouani | 9 June 2000 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Sanaâ Mssoudy | 30 December 1999 | 5 | 2 | v. | |
| FW | Chaymaa Mourtaji | 8 December 1995 | 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Maissen Bourhrine | v. | |||||
Previous squads
- Africa Women Cup of Nations
- UNAF Women's Tournament
- Malta International Women's Football Tournament
Records
*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 23 July 2022.
Most capped players
|
Top goalscorers
|
Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
| FIFA Women's World Cup record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 1 / 9 | |||||||||
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | |
| did not enter | |||||||||
| did not qualify | |||||||||
| qualified | |||||||||
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Olympic Games
| Summer Olympics record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 0 / 6 | ||||||||
| Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Did not enter | ||||||||
| Did not qualify | ||||||||
| Did not enter | ||||||||
| Did not qualify | ||||||||
| To be determined | ||||||||
| Total | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Africa Women Cup of Nations
| Women's Africa Cup of Nations record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 4 / 14 | |||||||||
| Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD | |
| did not enter | |||||||||
| Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | −5 | ||
| Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | −12 | ||
| did not qualify | |||||||||
| did not enter | |||||||||
| did not qualify | |||||||||
| Cancelled | |||||||||
| Runners-up | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | ||
| Qualified as hosts | |||||||||
| Total | Runners-up | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 27 | −13 | |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
African Games
| African Games record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| did not enter | ||||||||
| 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | |||
| to be determined | ||||||||
| Total | 1/5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | |
- 2019 edition of the football tournament was played by the U-20 team.
Arab Women's Cup
Morocco lost to Algeria in the championship game of the first Arab Women's Cup in 2006 after defeating host Egypt 4–2 in the semi-finals.[25]
| Arab Women's Cup record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 1 | |||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Runners-up | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | |
| did not enter | |||||||||
| Total | Runners-up | 1/1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 |
UNAF Women's Tournament
| UNAF Women's Tournament record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 1 | |||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| did not participate | |||||||||
| Champion | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | |
| Total | Champion | 1/2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 |
Honours
All−time record against FIFA recognized nations
The list shown below shows the Morocco national football team all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.
- Key
| Against | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Confederation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
See also
- Sport in Morocco
- Football in Morocco
- Women's football in Morocco
- Football in Morocco
- Morocco women's national under-17 football team
- Morocco women's national under-20 football team
- Cultural significance of the Atlas lion
- Morocco national football team
- Morocco A' national football team
- Morocco national under-23 football team
- Morocco national under-20 football team
- Morocco national under-17 football team
Other football codes
References
Notes
Citations
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Goloboy, James (10 July 2000). "Africa – Women's Championship 2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 May 2006.
- Duret, Sébastien (14 February 2008). Cruickshank, Mark (ed.). "Africa – Women's Championship 2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 May 2006.
- "2003 FIFA Women's World Cup Preliminaries". FIFA World Cup. FIFA. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2005. Retrieved 30 May 2006.
- Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Morocco wins UNAF Women's Cup". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Tanzania emerged runners-up as Morocco win Unaf Women's Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Wafcon returns with World Cup places at stake". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- Kasraoui, Safaa. "Wafcon: Morocco Beats Botswana, Qualifies for Women World Cup for 1st Time". Morocco World News.
- Mothoagae, Keba (13 July 2022). "Morocco knocks Botswana out to reach 2022 WAFCON semifinals, 2023 World Cup". SportsBrief – Sport news. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Morocco is the first Arab team to qualify for the Women's World Cup – News Unrolled". News Unrolled. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "StackPath". dailynewsegypt.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Morocco's women's national football team qualifies for the World Cup for the first time". Atalayar. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Morocco, Zambia qualify for Women's World Cup with WAFCON wins". ESPN.com. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Morocco stun holders Nigeria to reach TotalEnergies WAFCON final". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Morocco set up Wafcon final against South Africa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "South Africa beat Morocco to win first Wafcon title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- Kasraoui, Safaa. "Morocco Loses Wafcon Final To South Africa". Morocco World News.
- Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "What to know about Morocco's Atlas Lionesses". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- "Morocco's proud Lionesses fall short of Africa Cup of Nations glory". Arab News. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- "Morocco now have a new shirt for the World Cup in Qatar". Atalayar. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "What to know about Morocco's Atlas Lionesses".
- Hatim, Yahia (11 February 2020). "Morocco's Football Federation Hires Foreign Coaches, Local Assistants". Morocco World News.
- Toutate, Issam (27 November 2020). "Reynald Pedros to Coach Moroccan Women's National Team". Morocco World News.
- Squad for friendly game
- "Championnat arabe dames: Le Maroc perd en finale face à l'Algérie". Le Matin (in French). 30 April 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- "Africa – Women's Championship". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "African Games (Women) 2019". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
External links
- Official website only (in Arabic and French)
- Morocco profile at FIFA.com

