On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Moroccan women's national football team saw their journey in the Africa Women's Cup of Nations (Morocco 2026) come to a halt in the semifinals. They faced a tough defeat against the Cameroonian team, losing 3-1 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a scoreless draw at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
From the outset of the match, the Lionesses of the Atlas entered the field with determination, applying intense pressure on the Cameroonian defense, spearheaded by the dynamic movements of players such as Sanae Masoudi, Soukaina Ouzraoui, and team captain Ghizlane Chabaak. Under the guidance of coach Jorge Vilda, the Moroccan players focused on ball possession and controlling spaces, dominating the first twenty minutes of play as they sought to penetrate the Cameroonian box.
Despite their sustained high-pressure tactics and effective ball recovery efforts, the Moroccan team struggled to convert their dominance into goals, facing a well-organized Cameroonian defensive line. A spirited crowd of supporters of various ages filled the stadium, cheering for the Lionesses as they attempted to translate their control into points on the scoreboard, but the first half ended without any goals.
As the second half commenced, the national team continued their offensive push in search of a breakthrough. Meanwhile, the pace of the Cameroonian team increased as they attempted to create opportunities from the right flank, yet their efforts failed to pose a significant threat to goalkeeper Khadija Rmeishi.
In a match filled with intensity, the Lionesses came close to scoring in the 60th minute when Sanae Masoudi's shot narrowly missed the upper corner of the net. The Cameroonian side responded swiftly with a chance from Marie Gisèle Manga in the 64th minute, but she missed a golden opportunity against Rmeishi.
In an effort to inject fresh energy into the midfield, coach Jorge Vilda made two substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on Najat Badri and Iman Saud in place of Elodie Naqash and Ibtissam Jraidi, respectively. The Cameroonians exhibited greater determination in the second half but struggled to convert their pressure into scoring threats, particularly through players Mikaela-Batia Apam and Ivana Makana.
In the closing minutes of the match, the Moroccan team intensified their efforts, with attempts from Fatima Teknaout and Hanan Ait Hajj in the 90th minute, followed by Sanae Masoudi in the second minute of stoppage time, and Soukaina Ouzraoui in the fourth minute, yet they were unable to find the back of the net.
The national team came agonizingly close to sealing the match in the 117th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately, Fatima Teknaout failed to convert the opportunity, leading the match to a penalty shootout. In a dramatic turn of events, luck favored the Cameroonian side, which triumphed in the shootout with a score of 3-1, earning them a spot in the final against Malawi.
As reported by maroc.ma.
