Hosts Morocco look to complete a major splash at the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations by defeating South Africa in the Saturday’s final in Rabat. The Atlas Lionesses had never made it beyond the group stage in their two past appearances in 1998 and 2000 but have looked more than capable of winning the competition, especially with a passionate and vocal home crowd behind them. Morocco will clash with a South Africa team who are too familiar with the final stage for all the wrong reasons having lost on all of their previous five appearances at the final hurdle.
For Morocco and manager Reynald Petros this is the culmination of a long project where the team set lofty goals despite lacking past pedigree in the WAFCON, and have exceeded expectations. Petros stated he expected a similar quality of opponent on Saturday to the team his team defeated in the semifinals, Nigeria, but that Banyana Banyana will have a different style of play. Star attackers Rosella Ayane and Ghizlane Chebbak gave credit to the supporters who have turned out in large numbers to spur the Atlas Lionesses on while having different backgrounds with Chebbak looking to continue a family tradition of excellence and the English-born Ayane enjoying her time with the team while attempting to learn more French and Arabic.
South Africa lost star attacker Thembi Kgatlana earlier in the competition but the team continues to look strong and are focused ahead of an obstacle they have yet to clear in their history, the WAFCON final. CAF Women’s Coach of the Year Desiree Ellis acknowledged the rapid development of women’s football in Morocco and what will be a difficult environment to play in but cited Banyana Banyana’s past experiences of playing in front of hostile crowds including against Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Eyes will be on influential forward Jermaine Seoposenwe, who has been a constant danger to opposing defenses and has taken on the mantle of replacing Kgatlana as Banyana Banyana’s greatest attacking threat.
Read more about both teams in the links below.
