The Moroccan women’s national football team coach Jorge Vilda said on Monday that his players are fully motivated to defeat Ghana in the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), hosted in the Kingdom.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, where the semi-final will be played on Tuesday at 8:00 pm local time, Vilda said that the Atlas Lionesses are determined to deliver a strong performance and secure a place in the final.
“Match after match, the players have managed to handle pressure and convert it into positive energy,” he said, adding that the team’s mental strength has been a key asset throughout the tournament.
Vilda added that the squad, which has been preparing intensively for the past two months, intends to take full advantage of home support and familiar surroundings to book a place in the final.
“The players made significant efforts during the group stage, particularly as we faced physically strong opponents,” he acknowledged, adding that Ghana is a formidable side with a fast and cohesive style of play.
Morocco’s striker Ibtissam Jraidi, named player of the match in the 3-1 quarter-final win over Mali, said that Tuesday’s game would be highly competitive, stressing that the squad is aware of the responsibility it carries.
“Individual awards don’t really matter, the most important thing is to help the team win and reach the final,” she said.
Ghana coach Kim Bjorkegren, meanwhile, described the semi-final as his team’s toughest challenge so far in the competition, noting that his players face the additional task of recovering from a hard-fought quarter-final against Algeria.
“We’ll fight for our chances, even though it will be a difficult match against Morocco,” Bjorkegren said. “We’ve studied their playing style and hope to come out on top.”
The second semi-final will see Nigeria take on South Africa on Tuesday at Casablanca’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium, with kickoff set for 5:00 pm local time.
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