Morocco women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda said Saturday in Rabat that the best way to begin the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 16 in Morocco, is to show the players’ abilities on the field.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Kenya at Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat (9 p.m.), Vilda said, “We have a team that combines experience with talented young players, and we are confident but not overconfident. We will take it one match at a time and give our best. That is the only way to make the difference on the field.”
He said the squad is eager to begin the tournament and put into practice the preparations made beforehand, adding that playing at home is an advantage and a source of motivation for everyone in the national team.
“We are starting this tournament with the goal of qualifying for the next Women’s World Cup,” he said, adding that the players are fit and ready to represent Morocco at the continental competition.
According to the coach, “The national team’s previous results in this competition place a responsibility on us to do better,” adding that it is important to leave a positive mark on the field in order to progress in the tournament.
For her part, national team captain Ghizlane Chebbak said the squad is ready to have a good tournament, adding that “hosting the Women’s AFCON in Morocco is an additional source of motivation for all of us.”
“We are fully focused on the first match and excited to make our supporters happy,” she said, adding, “We are a united and cohesive group with one shared objective: to win the title and qualify for the next Women’s World Cup.”
She added, “We are under good pressure and determined to show on the field what we have prepared and to have a good tournament, which will not be easy against experienced and strong teams.”
Kenya head coach Beldine Odemba, for her part, said her team has prepared well for the match against Morocco, which will provide an opportunity to test the work that has been done.
She said the match against the Atlas Lionesses is crucial to making a good start to the Women’s AFCON, adding that her team will give its best in the opening match.
She added, “We have players from different backgrounds, some of whom have played at the international level, and that diversity is good for us because it allows us to field a balanced team that combines freshness with top-level experience.”
