Changes in the Moroccan Women's National Football Team
The news broke early Thursday morning, as the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) announced a new call-up for its women's national team, now under the guidance of French coach Eric Blahic. Notably absent from this announcement was Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, prompting immediate speculation regarding his status. While the initial interpretation in Spain suggested that Vilda had been outright dismissed, Vilda himself clarified that he has not been formally fired but rather relegated from his position as head coach.
This situation presents a typical scenario within the federation led by Fouzi Lekjaa, where Vilda has been a controversial figure since his appointment in October 2023. His hiring followed a tumultuous departure from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), despite leading the Spanish national team to victory in the World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand shortly before. His appointment raised eyebrows at the time, and the current developments surrounding his role have only added to the intrigue.
The root of Vilda's exit from Spain can be traced back to his close association with the disgraced former RFEF president Luis Rubiales, who made headlines for his tumultuous assembly meeting where he emphatically refused to resign. In a surprising turn of events, Rubiales publicly offered Vilda a new four-year contract worth half a million euros annually during this meeting, solidifying their alliance. Their camaraderie was evident as they both applauded, with Vilda never issuing an apology for the controversies that transpired.
Vilda's Performance and Future Prospects
Before the 2023 World Cup, Vilda was already embroiled in a scandal involving a mutiny of 15 players who demanded his resignation from Rubiales. His connection to Rubiales became even more pronounced after the infamous incident involving player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony, which ultimately linked Vilda's fate to that of Rubiales. Vilda even attended the trial where Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault, further complicating his position.
Returning to the Moroccan national team, it is essential to highlight that Vilda's record over the past three years has been mixed. During the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Morocco, he led the Atlas Lionesses to the final, where they unfortunately lost to Nigeria after initially leading 2-0 at halftime. In the previous edition of the tournament held in July, Morocco finished fourth after being eliminated by Cameroon in the semifinals and losing to Algeria in the third-place match, both decided by penalty shootouts.
While Vilda managed to qualify the team for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, he failed to secure a spot in the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, Morocco's recent performance in the Under-20 World Cup saw them exit in the first round, with Vilda at the helm following the demotion of Miguel Ángel Sopuerta, whom Vilda had initially brought from Spain to assist him.
The recent changes in the coaching staff suggest a strategic maneuver by Fouzi Lekjaa, potentially aimed at pressuring Vilda to resign. However, Vilda maintains he has not been dismissed and is likely to hold onto this claim until a severance package is negotiated.
As reported by elconfidencial.com.
