As Morocco women national team heads to their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup off to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, French coach Reynald Pedros has opted for a mixture of youth and experience in his squad.
They are in Group H alongside Germany, Korea Republic and Colombia.
According to fifa.com, there are five key players in the Moroccan side who could make the difference in what is sure to be an exciting group.
Rosella Ayane
Position: Forward
Date of birth: 16 March 1996
Although Ayane previously played for England’s youth teams and was also eligible to play for Scotland, she chose to represent her father’s country, Morocco, as a senior international.
At the Africa Cup of Nations, the Tottenham Hotspur forward demonstrated her prowess by dazzling in the final third. Adept at breaking through the lines and with a great understanding of her team-mates, she set up Morocco’s equaliser in their semi-final against Nigeria. She also scored two goals of her own at the tournament, including one in the final against South Africa.
The 27-year-old is key to the Atlas Lionesses’ playing style, with her off-the-ball movement creating space for her team-mates.
Ghizlane Chebbak
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 22 August 1990
Chebbak, who plays for Moroccan side ASFAR, is the driving force in the national team’s midfield, providing a solid link to the forward line. She is also the Atlas Lionesses’ most capped player and has scored 21 times since making her full debut in 2008.
Now captaining the side, Chebbak was raised in a sporting family, with her father, Larbi Chebbak, having also represented the North African nation.
At the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, she was instrumental in her team making the final. With exemplary ball control and a penchant for incisive attacking moves, she was unsurprisingly named player of the tournament.
Nesryne El Chad
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 13 March 2003
Despite her tender age, El Chad has proved a commanding presence on the pitch, forming a solid defensive partnership with Yasmin Mrabet. The Lille defender played a crucial role in key qualification matches, demonstrating both her level-headedness and fighting spirit at the AFCON.
Part of the Morocco side that missed out on qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2022, she has now achieved her dream as part of the senior squad to qualify for Australia & New Zealand 2023.
When El Chad netted in the group stage game against Uganda, she became the youngest Moroccan to score in the Africa Cup of Nations at just 19 years and 114 days.
Imane Saoud
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 6 June 2002
Having chosen to represent Morocco rather than France, Saoud is one of a number of players who have strengthened the Atlas Lionesses in recent years. The experience she gained playing for Vendenheim in France and Swiss sides Basel and Servette helped her gain a spot in Pedros’ side, going on to score on her debut against Mali in June 2021.
In the opening match of the 2022 AFCON, she earned the free-kick from which Chebbak scored Morocco’s winner against Burkina Faso. Her ability to make penetrating runs from the left side, combined with her agility, are sure to earn her plenty of game time at the Women’s World Cup.
Fatima Tagnaout
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 20 January 1999
Playing her club football at ASFAR in Morocco, Tagnaout’s impressive technical attributes and ability to work her way out of tight spaces on either flank made her a crucial part of Pedros’ 2022 AFCON squad.
She set up both of Morocco’s goals in their 2-1 quarter-final win over Botswana, which saw the North Africans earn their spot at the Women’s World Cup. Moreover, she was praised for the quality she demonstrated throughout the continental tournament.
Adept at passing and dribbling with both feet, while possessing an incredibly accurate left-footed shot, Tagnaout is sure to play a leading role for Morocco again in Australia and New Zealand.
