Rabat – Thanks to her outstanding skills and impressive performances, Atlas Lionesses captain Ghizlane Chebbak has succeeded in solidifying her reputation as a distinguished player among female football stars across the African continent.
Born in 1991 to an athletic family, Chebbak is the daughter of the late Larbi Chebbak, a former Moroccan football player. Chebbak began her football career at a young age, following in the footsteps of her father, whom she considered her role model and biggest supporter.
“My father was very supportive of me from a very young age. He saw in me a talented player who could become a footballer in the future,” Chebbak said in an interview for the “Atlas Lionesses: Hear Them Roar!” documentary.
Chebbak made her professional debut with Morocco’s Ain Sbaa club and later signed with the Casablanca-based Rachad Bernoussi club.
After joining the Moroccan women’s national team in 2007, Chebbak quickly became a prominent player, prompting several professional clubs, including Egypt’s Misr El Maqasa, to express interest in signing the Atlas Lionesses’ captain.
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The Moroccan midfielder eventually joined the Egyptian club during the 2010-2011 season, but her journey with Midr El Maqasa abruptly came to an end due to the political instability in the North African country at the time.
After returning to Morocco, Chebbak joined AS FAR, the Royal Armed Forces club, which marked a turning point in her career. With the Rabat-based club, the football star claimed nine Moroccan championships and five Throne Cups, unleashing her full potential.
The 31-year-old star was named “Player of the Year in Morocco” five times and was the top scorer of the local championship four times.
Alongside AS FAR, Chebbak offered a remarkable performance in the inaugural edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021, ranking as fourth top scorer in the competition with two goals.
The WAFCON dream
The Atlas Lioness now possesses only one goal: to win the upcoming Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final that her home country is hosting.
The Moroccan women’s football team made history during the tournament after qualifying for the Women’s World Cup for the first time following their 2-1 win against Botswana last week. The global competition will occur next year in Australia and New Zealand.
Following her outstanding performance during the Morocco-Botswana match, captain Chebbak claimed the “Woman of the Match” award. “I am very happy with this qualification to the World Cup. We believed in ourselves and thank God we have achieved our goal,” Chebbak said.
Days later, the Atlas Lionesses secured their ticket to the finals of the African competition for the first time in history, following a 4-5 penalty victory against Nigeria’s Super Falcons. The final game, against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, will occur on Saturday, July 23 in Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex.
Relying on her agility, the Atlas Lionesses’ captain has scored several goals throughout the tournament, greatly contributing to Morocco’s qualification to the finals.
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On July 14, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed the shortlisted players in the women’s category, featuring Moroccan international Chebbak in the final list of female African footballers nominated for the “Player of the Year” award of the 2022 CAF Awards.
Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses gained momentum in their home country and across Africa following their remarkable performance at the continental tournament, with Moroccan fans offering the football stars their unwavering support and encouragement.
Morocco-Nigeria’s semifinal match set a new attendance record in the history of women’s football in Africa, hosting 45,562 spectators who cheered and chanted in support of the players.
