After beating Colombia in Perth, Morocco has produced one of the major shocks of the Women’s World Cup, with the 72nd ranked Atlas Lionesses progressing to the last 16 of the tournament at the expense of two-time World Cup winners and number two ranked side in the world, Germany.
After suffering a torrid start to the tournament, losing 6-0 to Germany, it looked like the first Arab side to make it to the Women’s World Cup Finals would endure the briefest of stays, but Reynald Pedros’ side quickly rallied.
Two 1-0 wins, the first courtesy of a Ibtissam Jraïdi goal against South Korea, and today, thanks to an Anissa Lahmari penalty in first half injury time against eventual group winners Colombia, sees the Moroccans through to the next round, and technically four games from the final.
With the group games now done and dusted, Morocco joins with Colombia, France, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Spain, England, Denmark, the Netherlands, USA, France, Jamaica, Sweden, and South Africa with a last 16 game against France their reward for coming second in Group H.
Facing off against the fifth ranked team in the world on Tuesday August 8 (16:00 GST), the women have the chance to avenge the World Cup defeat suffered by the Moroccan men’s team at last year’s Qatar World Cup, losing 2-0 after becoming the first Arab nation to make a World Cup semi-final. If the women’s side can defeat the French, they might start to believe they can go one better and make the final themselves later this month.