Rabat – Morocco head coach Jorge Vilda has named the final squad that will represent the Atlas Lionesses at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to take place in Morocco from July 26 to August 16.
The Spanish coach announced his final selection during a press conference held Friday morning at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, confirming the players who will lead the hosts into Africa’s biggest women’s football tournament.
Vilda’s final selection features 26 players, including three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and nine forwards, as Morocco looks to capitalize on home advantage in pursuit of a historic first WAFCON title.
Captain Ghizlane Chebbak headlines the squad alongside experienced names such as Khadija Er-Rmichi, Nouhaila Benzina, Yasmin-Katie Mrabet, Ibtissam Jraidi, and Sakina Ouzraoui, with the Atlas Lionesses retaining the core of the side that reached the finals of the last two editions.
Morocco’s squad for WAFCON 2026:
Goalkeepers
- Khadija Er-Rmichi
- Ines Arouaissa
- Fatima-Zahra El Jebraoui
Defenders
- Hanane Ait El Haj
- Zineb Redouani
- Aziza Rabbah
- Siham Boukhami
- Rania Boutiebi
- Nouhaila Benzina
- Maryame Atiq
- Nesryne El Chad
Midfielders
- Soumia Hady
- Ghizlane Chebbak
- Najat Badri
- Hajar Said
- Yasmin-Katie Mrabet
- Elodie Nahla Nakkach
Forwards
- Kenza Chapelle
- Imane Saoud
- Kautar Azraf
- Jade Nassi
- Fatima Tagnaout
- Sakina Ouzraoui
- Chaimaa Mourtaji
- Ibtissam Jraidi
- Sanaa Mssoudy
Morocco enters the tournament determined to end years of near misses after finishing as runners-up in the last two editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Atlas Lionesses fell to South Africa in the 2022 final before suffering another heartbreaking defeat to Nigeria in the 2024 decider, both times falling just short of a first continental title.
Now, backed by home support once again, Morocco will be aiming to go one step further and lift the continental trophy for the first time in the nation’s history.
The Atlas Lionesses will kick off their campaign against Kenya on July 26 before taking on Algeria and Senegal in the remaining group-stage fixtures.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will run until August 16, with Morocco hosting the tournament for the third time as Africa’s top national teams compete for continental glory.
