Their qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FIFAWWC) was already deemed an achievement worth being celebrated as Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses became the first Arab team to make it to the quadrennial tournament, currently being held in Australia and New Zealand. As the men’s side etched their now-golden names in record books by simultaneously becoming the first Arab and African team to make it to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, it appears that their female counterparts might be on track to make history for their native homeland once again by reaching the knockout stages and vying for a spot in the Women’s World Cup later stages.
Despite a crushing defeat in their debut against Germany, who managed to put six goals past them, the Lionesses quickly managed to turn the situation around by securing a decisive win against South Korea, by the narrowest of margins, thanks to an early header by the squad’s own number nine, Ibtissam Jraidi, making it their first-ever goal and success in the tournament ever. Reinvigorating hope into their campaign, their hardly-fought-for victory pushed them to repeat the feat, this time against Colombia, netting a precious goal that would prove to be enough to earn themselves a spot in the round of 16 and officially become the first-ever Arab Women’s team to reach that stage ever.
Congratulations Morocco, you made history again 🦁🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/HgYZoxl0L0
— MILLE WORLD (@mille_world) August 3, 2023
Igniting a newfound belief within the squad, who are seemingly on their way to following in the same historic path as their male counterparts, Morocco’s advancing, which is adamantly fueled by the level of success reached by Walid Regaragui’s boys in December, has sparked a nationwide surge of excitement and support for women’s football, ushering a new era of recognition and investment in the game.
With the Lionesses’ quest for glory being prolonged by one at least one other game, the squad eagerly awaits their next fixture, against France, where they will face a new challenge and an opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage once again.
