Women's World Cup: Morocco Women's Team Profile

Morocco have qualified for the World Cup for the first time but may feel they can go far in Australia and New Zealand after finishing as the runners-up in last year’s African Cup of Nations.

However, the Lionesses of Atlas head into the tournament as huge underdogs and they are the second-lowest ranked team by FIFA competing in the showpiece, above only fellow African outfit Zambia.

Morocco's World Cup record:

This will be Morocco's first appearance at a World Cup and just their fourth at a major tournament.

The North African nation qualified for back-to-back African Cup of Nations tournaments in 1998 and 2000 but managed just one win across six games in those two competitions.

Morocco had to wait over 20 years for their next WAFCON but they enjoyed a memorable campaign with a run through to the final as the host nation, losing out to South Africa.

How Morocco qualified:

WAFCON served as the qualifying event for the World Cup and Morocco's strong showing proved enough for them to book a place in Australia and New Zealand.

Morocco breezed through the group stages with three wins in as many games, scoring five goals and conceding just once, as they saw off Senegal, Uganda and Burkina Faso.

Frenchman Reynald Pedros oversaw a 2-1 win in the quarter-finals against Botswana and then guided his side to a 5-4 victory over Nigeria on penalties in the last four.

Morocco fell just short of claiming a first piece of major silverware as they went down 2-1 to South Africa in the final but their run was still enough to secure a World Cup berth.

The Manager - Reynald Pedros:

Former France international Pedros has been in the Morocco Women's hotseat since November 2020.

Pedros enjoyed a distinguished playing career and represented Nantes, Parma, Marseille, Napoli and Lyon at club level.

Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation for a period, Pedros managed 25 appearances and four goals for France between 1993 and 1996, but a penalty miss in the semi-finals of Euro 96 ended his international career as he was made somewhat of a scapegoat by the French media and fans.

The 51-year-old has found redemption as a manager, however, winning two French league titles, two Champions League crowns and one Coupe de France Feminine with Lyon before taking on his current position.

Confirmed Morocco Squad:

Morocco are yet to confirm their squad for the Women's World Cup. Here are the 28 players who have been selected for the provisional squad.

Goalkeepers: Ines Arouaissa (Cannes), Khadija Er-Rmichi (ASFAR), Assia Zouhair (SCCM).

Defenders: Hanane Ait El Haj (ASFAR), Nouhaila Benzina (ASFAR), Siham Boukhami (ASFAR), Ghizlane Chiiri (ASFAR), Nesryne El Chad (Lille), Rkia Mazrouai (Charleroi), Yasmin Mrabet (Levante), Zineb Redouani (ASFAR), Sabah Seghir (Sampdoria).

Midfielders: Ghizlane Chebbak (ASFAR), Najat Badri (ASFAR), Anissa Lahmari (Guingamp), Sarah Kassi (Fleury), Elodie Nakkach (Servette).

Forwards: Salma Amani (Metz), Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur), Anissa Belkasmi (Orleans), Sofia Bouftini (RS Berkane), Kenza Chapelle (Nantes), Fatima Gharbi (CE Europa), Samya Hassani (Telstar), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al-Ahli), Sakina Ouzraoui Diki (Bruges), Imane Saoud (Servette), Fatima Tagnaout (ASFAR).

Morocco's Key Players:

Attacking midfielder Ghizlane Chebbak starred for the Lionesses of Atlas at last year's WAFCON with three goals.

Chebbak finished as the tournament's top scorer and was named as the Player of the Tournament.

The 32-year-old captains the Morocco side and has been capped 56 times by her country, scoring 21 goals.

Chebbak has spent her entire club career in her homeland with ASFAR and has won 10 league titles and one CAF Women's Champions League title during her playing career.

Tottenham forward Rosella Ayane represented England at youth level before switching allegiances to the country of her father's birth at senior level.

The Reading-born 27-year-old boasts an impressive scoring record at international level with nine goals in 19 appearances.

In goal, Morocco have the vastly experienced Khadija Er-Rmichi who plays alongside Chebbak for ASFAR.

The 33-year-old is widely regarded as Morocco's most successful women's player as she has won 14 Moroccan Championship titles, the CAF Women's Champions League, the UNAF Tournament at international level and the Throne Cup on 10 occasions.

Morocco's Group fixtures:

Group G:
Germany vs Morocco, Melbourne, 24th July 2023
South Korea vs Morocco, Adelaide, 30th July 2023
Morocco vs Colombia, Perth, 3rd August 2023