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Rabat – Morocco’s women national football team members lit up the Women World Cup tournament with a mesmerizing and historic win over Colombia to qualify for the round 16 of the competition.
The well-deserved win came after a team spirit and hard work displayed by all team members from defense to attack.
The Atlas Lionsses’ qualification made international headlines, with media over the world highlighting the too-good-to-be-true performances displayed by the Moroccan women’s national football team.
“It is Morocco, the first Aarab nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup who are the beneficiaries. They qualify on the basis of a 1-0 victory over Korea and today against Colombia,” Forbes highlighted.
The magazine also stressed the presence of defender Nouhaila Benzina, who is the first-ever woman to play at a World Cup wearing a hijab.
The Atlas Lionesses’ defense and attacking prowess also made rounds at different other international news sources, including CNN.
Featuring Germany’s draw against South Korea, CNN stressed that “pain for Garmany meant joy for Morocco,” recalling that this tournament is the first for the Atlas Lionesses who reached the knockout stage with a “surprise 1-0 in against Colombia.”
Al Jazeera also highlighted Morocco’s win to advance to the last 16 of the Women World Cup, stressing that the Moroccan women’s national team “took the lead” in a thrilling game and never let go despite Colombia’s superior ball possession.
BBC highlighted Morocco’s recovery following the Atlas Lionesses’ 6-0 defeat against Germany, emphasizing that the Alas Lionesses “started brightly” during Colombia vs Morocco game.
“Step forward Morocco. Reynaud Pedros’ side have recovered from their World Cup debut hammering to put in two impressive performances against South Korea and Colombia, and earn a historic passage to the last 16,” BBC wrote.
Moroccan and international fans, football commentators, and public figures alike have also celebrated the Atlas Lionesses on social media.
“Morocco script history as they beat Colombia to win their second straight game and qualify for the Round of 16 in their first FIFA Women’s World Cup finals,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino wrote on Instagram.
Morocco’s men football team members also celebrated the Atlas Lionesses, with the star right-back Achraf Hakimi sharing a post on his Instagram story with the caption “qualified.”
Hakim Ziyech also shared a post with a Morocco flag and a lion emoji.
Many Moroccans also celebrated the win, including Moroccan analyst Samir Bennis, who said in a tweet:”#The_impossible_is_not_Moroccan This is the first time in the history of the men and women’s World Cup that a team loses 0-6 in its first game and advances to the second round. Morocco’s fortunate destiny is to be a barrier-breaker.”
#The_impossible_is_not_Moroccan This is the first time in the history of the men and women’s World Cup that a team loses 0-6 in its first game and advances to the second round. Morocco’s fortunate destiny is to be a barrier-breaker. It was the first African country to qualify to…
— Samir Bennis (@SamirBennis) August 3, 2023
The Atlas Lionesses will now face France during the Round of 16 game on Tuesday next week.
Morocco’s football development
Many have expressed satisfaction with Morocco’s football development throughout the past decade.
Last year in July, FIFA President described Morocco as a “great country not only for football but as one that knows how to organize important events.”
The comments came to celebrate Morocco’s hosting of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations last year.
“The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is a competition that is very important to us and the fact that CAF has chosen to play it in Morocco is a testimony to its capabilities and to President Fouzi, who has managed the federation brilliantly,” he added.
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Africa Cup of Nations President Patrice Motsepe also congratulated Morocco’s football reforms in July 2023 during the U-23 AFCON.
“We would like to congratulate the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football and our Brother Fouzi Lekjaa for their world-class headquarters,” he said, adding: “We would also like to express our gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Government, and the people of Morocco.”
