The Moroccan women’s national team achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, following their valuable 2-1 victory over South Africa in the quarter-final match of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations held yesterday, Saturday. This win not only secured the “Atlas Lionesses” a place in the continental tournament’s semi-finals but also confirmed their participation in the upcoming global football festival.
The Moroccan women started the match strongly with clear dominance over the gameplay, relying on possession and building attacks from the back, which restricted the offensive attempts of the South African team. This continuous pressure resulted in the opening goal scored by player Sakina Diki Ozraoui in the 31st minute, igniting the enthusiasm of the large Moroccan crowd that filled the stands of Moulay Hassan Stadium.
At the beginning of the second half, the Moroccan women’s team continued their effort to extend the lead, which was achieved in the 52nd minute by Hanan Ait Elhaj through a penalty kick, bringing the score to 2-0. Despite Morocco’s clear advantage, Tiyani Kejatlana managed to reduce the deficit for South Africa in the 67th minute, increasing the excitement in the remaining minutes of the match.
The “Atlas Lionesses” successfully maintained their lead until the final whistle, ending the match with a well-deserved 2-1 victory and securing a ticket to the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations semi-finals. This double victory was not just an important step in the Moroccan team’s journey in the continental tournament but also cemented their position on the global football stage with their qualification for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027.
