Rabat – Morocco women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda commended the Atlas Lionesses’ fighting spirit after their 1-0 victory over Algeria in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), saying his side’s determination and physical strength ultimately earned them the result.
Speaking after Thursday’s Group A clash, the Spanish coach opened by thanking the Moroccan supporters, describing the sold-out atmosphere as a decisive factor in helping the team claim all three points.
“The fans played an important role,” Vilda said. “Their support gave the players extra energy, and we are grateful for the incredible atmosphere they created.”
The victory, secured through Sanaa Mssoudi’s second-half winner, moved Morocco closer to the knockout stage and extended the Atlas Lionesses’ unbeaten start to the tournament.
The Morocco coach singled out his team’s performance in the closing stages as the biggest positive.
“We finished the match strongly,” Vilda said. “Not just because we scored, but because the team maintained its intensity and physical level until the end. The players never stopped believing they could score, whether in the first minute or the last.”
Reflecting on the overall display, Vilda admitted Morocco struggled to move the ball quickly enough during the opening half but felt the team found a better rhythm after the interval.
“We were more dynamic in midfield in the second half, and that allowed us to play the football we wanted,” he explained.
With Morocco now preparing to face Senegal in their final Group A fixture, Vilda insisted his team’s objective remains unchanged.
“We always play to win,” he said. “Our focus now is finishing top of the group. We’ll assess the players’ physical condition over the coming days before selecting the squad, but our mentality will stay exactly the same.”
Morocco currently sit in a strong position to qualify for the WAFCON quarterfinals, with victory over Senegal likely to secure first place in Group A.
