Rabat – Morocco women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda has hailed the country’s long-term investment in women’s football after the Atlas Lionesses qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Morocco booked their place at the global tournament by reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), following a 2-1 victory over South Africa on Saturday in Rabat.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Vilda said World Cup qualification had been one of the team’s main objectives from the beginning of the competition, describing the achievement as the result of the development project implemented by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
He stressed that the qualification was not the product of chance, but rather the outcome of sustained work and planning aimed at developing women’s football in Morocco.
Vilda also highlighted the Atlas Lionesses’ defensive organization and physical effort as key factors behind their victory over South Africa.
The strategy
The Spanish coach said Morocco produced a strong first half, controlling possession more effectively and creating several chances. He particularly praised the defensive line for limiting the threat posed by the South African attack.
According to Vilda, South Africa was also surprised by Morocco’s 4-4-2 setup in midfield, which disrupted the opponents’ rhythm and forced them to rely more heavily on long balls.
The Moroccan defense also kept close watch on South African forward Rasselana, limiting her influence for much of the match.
Morocco then managed to extend their advantage from the penalty spot. Vilda described the successful penalty as a way of “settling an old debt” for the national team.
The match changed significantly after Morocco’s second goal, as South Africa pushed more players forward in search of a comeback. Vilda said the visitors committed four or five players to the attacking line, forcing Morocco to retreat and focus more heavily on defensive organization.
Despite the pressure, the Atlas Lionesses managed to withstand the late attacks and preserve their advantage until the final whistle.
Vilda praised the players for their exceptional physical effort, both collectively and individually, and said their ability to “suffer” together and remain organized was decisive in securing the semi-final qualification.
The next opponent
Looking ahead, Morocco will discover their semi-final opponent after the quarter-final between Nigeria and Cameroon today. Vilda said his team knows both sides well from previous encounters, but stressed that the immediate priority is to allow the players to recover physically and regain their mental freshness.
Morocco will play their WAFCON 2026 semi-final on Wednesday, August 12, at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. local time.
With their World Cup ticket already secured, the Atlas Lionesses can now turn their attention to continuing their continental campaign on home soil.
Vilda also thanked the Moroccan supporters who attended the match and those who followed the team from home, saying the players felt the support they have consistently received.
The coach added that Morocco still has another year to prepare for the 2027 World Cup, integrate younger players, and continue developing the team.
This qualification represents another major step in Morocco’s women’s football project, one that is now beginning to produce results on both the African and global stages.
