Jorge Velda, head coach of the Moroccan women’s national team, confirmed that his team has moved past the bitter disappointment of being eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, shifting their full focus towards securing third place. The “Atlas Lionesses” aspire to end their journey in the tournament on the podium when they face the Algerian team in the third-place playoff, aiming to prove their merit and make up to the fans for not reaching the final.
Velda explained in the press conference held today that the defeat against Cameroon on penalties was harsh and painful, noting that small details decided the match and deprived the Moroccan women’s national team of the chance to compete for the title. Despite the difficulty in accepting elimination in such a manner, the Spanish coach affirmed that the players showed great resilience and quickly regained their psychological and physical balance, reflecting the fighting spirit they possess.
Velda added that the team’s morale is very high, and the players have a strong desire to win the upcoming match, to finish their participation in the tournament positively and honorably. The coach also praised the competitive level the team demonstrated throughout the tournament, confirming that the statistics reflect the significant development witnessed by the “Atlas Lionesses,” especially defensively, despite the misfortune of not reaching the final match.
The Spanish coach sees the current participation of the Moroccan women’s national team in the Africa Cup of Nations as positive and full of promising indicators for the future of women’s football in Morocco. The team has a genuine opportunity to end the tournament honorably by winning the bronze medal, which will be a great incentive for the players and confirm the hard work achieved. Moroccan fans eagerly look forward to watching the “Atlas Lionesses” put the final touch on their participation by securing victory over the Algerian team and claiming the bronze medal.
