The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Morocco and South Africa has begun with a reminder of the hosts’ painful defeat in the 2022 final, after Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis said: “L’histoire a montre que nous pouvons battre le Maroc”.
The sides meet on Saturday with a place in the semi-finals and direct qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil at stake.
Ellis was speaking after South Africa secured their place in the last eight, and her words referred to the previous meeting between the teams in the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which was also held in Morocco.
South Africa won that match 2-1 at the Complexe sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, denying the Lionesses of the Atlas what would have been their first continental title.
The Banyana Banyana coach has nevertheless indicated that South Africa cannot rely solely on that historic result when they face Morocco again.
Morocco have entered the quarter-final with the stronger recent record. Jorge Vilda’s side finished top of Group A with seven points after beating Kenya 4-0 and Algeria 1-0, before drawing 0-0 with Senegal.
The Lionesses of the Atlas did not concede a single goal during the group stage, giving them a notable defensive advantage before their meeting with the reigning African champions.
South Africa’s route into the knockout phase was considerably more difficult. They began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat by Tanzania, then drew 2-2 with Cote d’Ivoire.
Their qualification was finally secured with a narrow 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso, leaving them to face Morocco despite a less convincing start to the tournament.
The quarter-final also brings together two of the best-established nations in African women’s football.
Morocco have invested heavily in infrastructure, their national teams and the domestic league in recent years. South Africa, meanwhile, have a longer-standing tradition in the women’s game and greater experience at the highest level of continental competition.
The winner will progress to the semi-finals and qualify automatically for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
For Morocco, the match offers two major incentives: the chance to avenge their defeat by South Africa in the 2022 final and an opportunity to demonstrate that the balance of power in African women’s football has shifted.
South Africa, who are the reigning champions, will hope their previous success against the hosts can provide confidence in another high-pressure meeting.
The match is therefore more than a contest for a semi-final place. It is a repeat of a recent continental final, a test of two contrasting tournament campaigns and a decisive fixture in the race for a place at the next Women’s World Cup.
Louis Mukoma Fargues
