Rabat – Morocco head coach Jorge Vilda has named his starting lineup for tonight’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Cameroon at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Experienced goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi retains her place between the posts, with Zineb Redouani, Nouhaila Benzina, Maryame Atiq and Hanane Ait El Haj among the defensive options.
Captain Ghizlane Chebbak starts again alongside Elodie Nahla Nakkach and Yasmin-Katie M’Rabet, while Sanaa Mssoudy and Sakina Ouzraoui Diki also keep their places.
Ibtissam Jraidi returns to the starting XI, replacing Fatima Tagnaout from the team that defeated South Africa 2-1 in Saturday’s quarter-final. Tagnaout is available from the bench.
Morocco’s starting XI: Khadija Er-Rmichi; Zineb Redouani, Nouhaila Benzina, Elodie Nahla Nakkach, Ghizlane Chebbak, Ibtissam Jraidi, Maryame Atiq, Hanane Ait El Haj, Sanaa Mssoudy, Sakina Ouzraoui Diki, Yasmin-Katie M’Rabet.
The semi-final kicks off at 9 p.m. local time, with Morocco seeking a third consecutive appearance in the WAFCON final.
Morocco reached the last four with a 2-1 victory over South Africa, with Ouzraoui opening the scoring before Ait El Haj converted a penalty for the decisive second goal. The result also secured the Atlas Lionesses automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Cameroon booked their semi-final place by eliminating defending champions Nigeria 1-0. Myriam Maéva Nyadjou scored the only goal in the 19th minute, while goalkeeper Michaely Bihina produced nine saves to preserve the lead.
Tonight’s encounter is only the second meeting between Morocco and Cameroon at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon won their previous meeting 4-1 during the group stage of the 2000 tournament.
Morocco, however, enter the game having reached the final in each of the previous two editions. They eliminated Nigeria on penalties in the 2022 semi-final before overcoming Ghana in another shootout at the same stage in 2024.
Victory tonight would give Vilda’s side another opportunity to pursue Morocco’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, having finished runners-up in the previous two editions.
