Morocco women’s national team ready for historic WAFCON final, says Coach Jorge Vilda

Morocco women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda expressed confidence ahead of Saturday’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria, saying his players are determined to win and write a new chapter in the country’s football history.

Speaking during a pre-match press conference on Friday, the Spanish coach said he is proud of the team’s progress throughout the tournament and confident in their ability to deliver a strong performance against the experienced Nigerian side.

“Our players have shown incredible development match after match,” Vilda said. “They’ve performed at a high level against strong opponents, and I believe in their capacity to rise to the challenge in the final.”

Vilda acknowledged Nigeria’s strength and experience in the competition but emphasized that the match will be decided in 90 minutes and that “everything is possible.” He praised his squad, known as the Atlas Lionesses, for their team spirit and collective play, noting that they will take to the pitch without fear and with full belief in themselves.

The coach highlighted that much of the team’s preparation since the semifinal has focused on physical recovery, especially after going into extra time in the previous match. However, he stressed that the mental aspect is equally important.

“Our team has a strong mindset,” he said. “We’re going to fight with our hearts and bodies to win this final. The players have delivered entertaining, high-quality football and know exactly what they need to do.”

Vilda also provided an update on team fitness, stating that the squad is in good health overall, with the exception of forward Fatima Tagnaout, whose availability will be determined after the final training session.

He praised the atmosphere within the squad, describing it as a “family,” and credited the strong team spirit for boosting morale during seven weeks of intense preparation.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Vilda said he had no hesitation accepting the Moroccan Football Federation’s offer to coach the women’s team, seeing in it a serious project to advance women’s football in the country.

“This experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to grow, both professionally and personally,” he said, commending Moroccan fans for their passion for the game.

Vilda concluded by emphasizing that reaching the final was always part of the team’s vision. “We set out to play six matches in this tournament, and we’ve achieved that goal,” he said. “Now, the team spirit that brought us this far will carry us through to the final whistle.”

Morocco will face Nigeria in the WAFCON final on Saturday at 9 p.m. local time at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium.