Morocco head coach Jorge Vilda Rodríguez says his side is fully focused on securing a win against Senegal in a decisive Group A clash at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The match, scheduled for Saturday evening at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, will determine the group winner, and possibly qualification for the knockout stage.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday, Vilda stressed the importance of the fixture, describing it as “a key step” in the Atlas Lionesses’ campaign. “Our goal is clear, win the match and top the group,” he said.
Vilda praised Senegal’s cohesion, pace, and physical strength, highlighting their effectiveness on set pieces, which troubled Zambia in their previous encounter. He also acknowledged the need for Morocco to tighten its defense, having conceded multiple goals in both of their opening games.
“The team is approaching this tournament one match at a time,” said the Spanish coach. “We showed resilience and came from behind in both of our matches so far, we believe in our ability to do it again.”
Morocco midfielder Sakina Ouzraoui echoed her coach’s confidence, stating that the players are “fully committed to winning.” She noted that Senegal had improved significantly since the last time the two teams met in a friendly, which Morocco won 7-0. “We are playing for the Moroccan fans. We carry a big responsibility and want to deliver a performance worthy of the occasion,” she said.
On the opposing side, Senegal coach Mam Moussa Diop said his squad has recovered physically and is prepared to “give everything on the pitch” to secure qualification. While praising Morocco’s quality and attacking flair, he emphasized Senegal’s determination to exploit any defensive lapses.
Morocco currently sits atop Group A with four points and a goal difference of +2, following a 2-2 draw with Zambiaand a 4-2 victory over DR Congo. Senegal trails just behind with three points, having thrashed DR Congo 4-0 before narrowly losing to Zambia 3-2.
Group A standings ahead of the final round:
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Morocco – 4 points (+2)
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Zambia – 4 points (+1)
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Senegal – 3 points
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DR Congo – 0 points
The match between Morocco and Senegal kicks off at 8 p.m. local time (GMT+1) on Saturday in Rabat.
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