Following Morocco’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Kenya in their tournament opener on Sunday, El Qaichouri reflected on the team’s performance and the key lessons to apply in the North African derby against Algeria.
The FUS coach first reviewed his club’s domestic campaign, which concluded with runners-up finish behind AS FAR, before shifting his focus to the continental tournament.
He lauded the Atlas Lionesses’ display against Kenya, emphasizing their strengths and explaining why the opening win provides a solid foundation for the remainder of the competition.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s clash with Algeria, El Qaichouri believes Morocco must build on their momentum while remaining cautious, warning that the second group match is likely to be far more demanding than the opener.
According to him, the current generation of Atlas Lionesses has now achieved the maturity and experience required to win the continental title. After finishing as runners-up in both the 2022 and 2025 editions, he believes the squad possesses everything needed to overcome the final hurdle and lift its first WAFCON trophy.
El Qaichouri also discussed Meryem Atiq, the FUS forward who scored against Kenya. He revealed his personal involvement in bringing her to the club, convinced of her talent to eventually earn a place in the national team and compete at WAFCON.
The coach further praised the steady progress of women’s football in Morocco, crediting the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) for its continued investment in the game and highlighting the impactful work being done at the youth level, which he believes is now yielding tangible results.
He concluded by calling on Moroccan supporters to continue backing the Atlas Lionesses throughout the tournament, while encouraging the players to maintain their self-belief and fight for the country’s first continental crown.
DR
Morocco will face Algeria on Thursday, July 30, at 9 p.m. at Stade Moulay El Hassan. Algeria opened its campaign with a 2-0 victory over Senegal.
