Ghizlane Chebbak, the 2025 African women’s Ballon d’Or winner and captain of Morocco, has been left on the bench for both of her country’s opening matches at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision marks a significant change for the 35-year-old, who has long been an automatic choice for the Atlas Lionesses and is widely regarded as the leading figure in the history of Moroccan women’s football.
Morocco manager Jorge Vilda has instead appeared to favour 18-year-old midfielder Kautar Azraf, who was developed at FC Barcelona. The selection represents a striking choice between the country’s most decorated current player and one of the emerging talents of its next generation.
Chebbak’s credentials remain considerable. She was named Africa’s best female player in 2025, was included in the FIFPRO World 11 in the same year and finished as the leading scorer at the 2022 and 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
However, her role has changed sharply at this tournament. Although she remains a senior presence in the dressing room and continues to wear the captain’s armband, she is no longer guaranteed a place in the starting line-up and has been asked to provide her experience from the substitutes’ bench.
Chebbak came on during Morocco’s 1-0 win against Algeria and marked the occasion by reaching 100 international caps. She became the first Moroccan women’s player to achieve that milestone, almost 20 years after making her international debut in 2007.
The achievement underlined her importance to the recent rise of the Atlas Lionesses. Chebbak has been a central figure throughout Morocco’s progress, including their runs to the finals of the 2022 and 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
While her status on the pitch may have altered, her influence within the team has not disappeared.
After the victory over Algeria, Vilda said Chebbak’s introduction brought greater calm and balance to the side. The Spanish manager valued her ability to help Morocco manage a tense closing period against a well-organised Algerian defence.
Chebbak has accepted the change in circumstances with professionalism. She may no longer be the team’s first-choice starter, but she remains an important member of the squad and has avoided creating disruption around her selection.
The remainder of the competition will show whether she returns to the starting XI, with Morocco preparing for a potentially significant meeting with Senegal.
For now, Chebbak is experiencing an unusual Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. She has had less time on the pitch than in previous tournaments, but her place in Morocco’s football history and her value to the balance of the Atlas Lionesses remain undiminished.
