Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak says she is hungry to rewrite the script when her side faces Nigeria in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Friday, Chebbak said the pain of losing the 2022 final on home soil still burns deeply and this year, she believes Morocco has what it takes to finish the job.
“We’ve worked so hard to get to this point again,” the 34-year-old said. “Nigeria are a big side, everybody knows that, but we are ready. We know them, we respect them, but we believe in our team.”
Chebbak, who is currently joint-top scorer at the tournament with four goals, played a pivotal role in knocking Nigeria out at the semi-final stage in 2022. On that dramatic night, Morocco edged the Super Falcons 5-4 on penalties, with Nigeria reduced to nine players by the 72nd minute.
But despite that historic victory, the Lionesses of Atlas went on to lose 2-1 to South Africa in the final a heartbreak Chebbak is determined not to repeat.
“That loss still hurts. This is more than football for me it’s about making history for my country,” she added.
Saturday’s final pits Morocco against Africa’s most dominant women’s team. Nigeria have won the WAFCON title a record nine times and are unbeaten in all previous final appearances.
For Chebbak and Morocco, the odds may appear stacked against them. But the captain says belief, preparation, and lessons from the past give them a fighting chance.
“We are not the same team we were three years ago,” she said. “We have grown, matured and gained experience. This is our time.”
Chebbak’s leadership has shone throughout this year’s tournament. She held her nerve during Morocco’s penalty shootout win over Ghana in the semi-final, guiding a relatively young squad to yet another historic WAFCON final.
Victory on Saturday would make Morocco the first North African nation to win the WAFCON title and seal Chebbak’s legacy as one of the continent’s most decorated female players.
The Super Falcons, led by Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala, will be looking to maintain their stranglehold on African women’s football. But Morocco, fuelled by redemption and homegrown momentum, are poised to challenge that dominance.
The WAFCON 2025 final kicks off Saturday evening at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
