Morocco coach Jorge Vilda said the Atlas Lionesses are determined to reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final after securing qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal against Cameroon, Vilda said reaching the World Cup was the team’s first objective but insisted the players are now focused on winning the tournament.
“We achieved qualification for the World Cup, and that was our first objective,” Vilda said. “We wanted to be at the 2027 World Cup. Achieving that dream was a great source of happiness, but we don’t want to stop here. We want to reach the final.”
Vilda said his players are confident and ready for the pressure of a semifinal.
“They will do everything they can,” he said. “The team has a lot of confidence and enthusiasm ahead of tomorrow’s game. They have shown it in the past. When we reach these moments, they show their best version, and that is what we want to deliver tomorrow.”
Vilda expects a tight semifinal
Vilda acknowledged that Cameroon will pose a difficult challenge, describing the semifinal as a potentially close contest that could be decided by small details.
“We know that we have strong teams in front of us, and Cameroon has done a good job in this competition,” he said. “I think the semifinal will be a balanced and close game, and it will be decided by small details. But I am confident that if my team performs at its usual level, we will win.”
The Spanish coach said his staff has studied Cameroon’s strengths and weaknesses and is preparing the players for the physical demands of the match.
“We studied the opponent in front of us, and we know that they are physically strong, as we have faced them in the past,” Vilda said. “We will focus on the details of the game, reinforce our style of play and give the players confidence.”
Vilda said the players do not need additional motivation before such an important match.
“I don’t need to motivate them,” he said. “They are fully motivated. They have a high level of mental readiness and concentration.”
‘Pressure is a privilege’
Vilda also addressed the expected home support, with thousands of Moroccan fans expected to attend the semifinal.
“I think the pressure will be on Cameroon, because having 22,000 Moroccans in the stadium will create a lot of pressure,” he said.
For Morocco, however, Vilda views the attention surrounding the team as an advantage.
“For us, pressure is a privilege,” he said. “We want to be in the final. That is the players’ dream, so this feeling is positive, not negative.”
Vilda said the coaching staff had spent the past year preparing the players to manage the emotions that come with playing in major matches.
“We have worked throughout the past year on how to deal with these feelings,” he said. “We imagined these moments and pictured the players enjoying them because they are unique moments in life.”
Experience an advantage
Vilda also rejected concerns that the age of some players could become a disadvantage.
“Experience is not a problem. Quite the opposite,” he said. “These players are professionals and take great care of their performance and fitness. They live a professional life 24 hours a day, and that is why they have reached this level.”
He said Cameroon’s main strengths include physical power, transitions and set pieces, but added that Morocco has its own strengths to rely on.
“Cameroon is mainly characterized by its physical strength, but they are also dangerous in transitions and set pieces, and we have studied that carefully,” Vilda said. “We have our weapons and our own style of football, and we will try to bring everything we have from the first minute.”
The coach said Morocco is prepared for every possible scenario, including extra time and a penalty shootout.
“We know the game could last 90 minutes or 120 minutes, and it could go to penalties,” he said. “We are prepared for all these scenarios.”
Vilda said Morocco has demonstrated during the tournament that it can adapt to different types of matches, whether by creating chances, defending patiently or taking advantage of limited opportunities.
The Atlas Lionesses will now look to turn that versatility into a place in the Women’s AFCON final as they face Cameroon in the semifinal.
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