“Morocco will learn and come back stronger”- Vilda following WAFCON final defeat

Morocco women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda said they are disappointed but extremely proud after their 3-2 loss to Nigeria in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The hosts looked set to be crowned champions for the first time but the Super Falcons scored three times in the second half for a famous comeback victory.

Disappointed head coach Vilda said the Atlas Lionesses are processing the final match loss and thanked the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for their support:

“It is too soon to make a general assessment because we’re still dealing with the disappointment of having lost. First of all, I’d like to thank the King for all the support he always gives us; the federation, the entire federation, led by President Fouzi, who not only supports us but also provides us with all the necessary conditions to work at the highest level; and also the management, who believed in this project from day one.”

The Atlas Lionesses struck twice inside 25 minutes but failed to keep their lead in the second half. Vilda added he is proud of the squad and what they have achieved so far:

“Despite the pain of defeat, we are proud of the work we’ve done. The players gave everything, showing commitment, effort, and love for this jersey. We know there are things to improve, and we take that on with self-criticism and responsibility. This journey doesn’t end here. We will learn from what went wrong and come back stronger.”

Morocco has now lost back-to-back WAFCON finals as hosts. The 2026 WAFCON will also be hosted by Morocco next year as Vilda and co. will be hoping to change the course of history. In the past five years, Morocco has come a long way to rub shoulders with the big guns. Their national side is now one of the powerhouses of African women’s football as they continue to challenge traditional powerhouses like Nigeria and South Africa.