Deliberate Investments in Women’s Football Pay Off For The Atlas Lionesses

We are witnessing a turn of fortunes in women’s football and the gsport Newsroom is here for it. This change is very evident at the ongoing Africa Women’s Cup of Nations where we’ve seen so many milestones and achievements by so many teams; one such team is the evolvement of the hosts of the showpiece, Morocco.

The Atlas Lionesses became the second team, after Zambia, to not only progress to the semi-finals of the WAFCON but also qualify for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This after defeating Botswana 2-1 in Rabat.

This milestone did not come easy for the Moroccan side as many intentional changes had to be made for it all to be possible. In 2019, following the launch of a Women’s league, the Moroccan Federation started a campaign with the aim to license a 1000 women coaches as well as 90 000 active footballers by 2024. This national strategy has a primary goal of tripling the number of women and girls playing football.

With the inception of this development plan, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), and National Women’s Football League (LNFF) announced that the players in the women’s senior team must all have professional contracts.

“When there are careers and livelihoods in female football, more commitment can be made by former players, coaches, and referees who genuinely care about its growth and development,” Kelly Lindsey, FRMF’s women’s football director said.

This progressive plan also included the establishment of a national under-17 championship and regional championships for youth categories across the country. The agreement also aims to support the management of clubs on an administrative and financial level by the National Technical Directorate and the Financial Department of the FRMF.

With Morocco having now sealed their ticket to New Zealand and Australia next year, it is becoming clear as day that when conscious and purposeful moves are made towards the advancement of women’s sport such can be the results.

Before now, Morocco had only twice appeared at the women’s version of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998 and 2000, exiting at the group stages both times.

Photo 1 Caption: gsport’s Lonwabo Nkohla takes a look at the evolvement of the Moroccan women’s national football team since the inception of their development plan in 2019, as they qualify for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup. Photo: CAF Women (Twitter)