Morocco women’s national football team is intensifying preparations for this summer’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with two international friendlies scheduled to take place in the capital, Rabat, with Ghana one of the opponents.
The Atlas Lionesses will face Tanzania next Monday before meeting Ghana on Friday, 17 April. Both matches are set to kick off at 18:30 local time at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
The fixtures form a central part of Morocco’s build-up to the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Women’s Africa Cup of Nations), which the country will host from 25 July to 16 August. With expectations mounting, the games are seen as a crucial opportunity for head coach Jorge Vilda to assess his squad ahead of the tournament.
Vilda is expected to use the matches to refine tactical approaches, strengthen cohesion within the team, and ensure players gain valuable match experience before the competition begins. The friendlies are also likely to provide insight into key areas such as defensive organisation, midfield structure, and attacking efficiency.
Morocco have been drawn in Group A alongside Algeria, Senegal and Kenya, placing immediate pressure on the host nation to deliver strong performances from the outset. The upcoming fixtures are therefore viewed as an important gauge of readiness against competitive opposition.
This year’s tournament carries added significance, having expanded from 12 to 16 teams. The stakes are further heightened by the reward on offer: the four semi-finalists will secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Morocco enter the competition in confident mood following impressive performances in recent editions. The Atlas Lionesses reached the final in both 2022 and 2024, finishing as runners-up on each occasion. Those achievements have helped establish the team as one of Africa’s leading sides in women’s football.
A key figure in Morocco’s rise has been captain Ghizlane Chebbak. Widely regarded as one of the continent’s most influential players, she claimed the Golden Boot at both the 2022 and 2024 tournaments and was named CAF Women’s Player of the Year in 2025. Her leadership and attacking threat are expected to be central to Morocco’s ambitions once again.
With home support behind them, Morocco will be aiming to go one step further this summer and secure their first continental title. The matches against Tanzania and Ghana may offer an early indication of whether the team is on course to achieve that goal.
As preparations continue, attention will remain firmly on how the Atlas Lionesses perform in Rabat, with the results and performances likely to shape expectations ahead of what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.
