It's an opportunity to be African champions - Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak
23rd July 2022
Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak will walk onto the Moulay Abdellah pitch for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final tomorrow night looking to carry on a special family legacy.
She has a chance of creating her own unique piece of African football history by becoming the first daughter to emulate her father in becoming an African champion, just like her dad Larbi Chebbak did when he won the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco’s men’s national team in 1976.
“This is an opportunity for us to be African champions and a chance for us to make all the people of Morocco happy, not only my family. We will give everything for the people who have been behind us since the beginning of the competition. The massive presence of the public is going to be a motivation for all of us. Maybe in the first game there was a bit of pressure because we had never played in front of so many people before, but quickly we adapted to it and today it is a great motivation to play in front of our supporters. We will do everything to make them happy,” the Moroccan captain said on the eve of the WAFCON 2022 final against South Africa.
She may emphasise that she plays for the whole Moroccan nation and not just her family, but her late father has naturally been on her mind during the home country’s fairytale run to the final.
She posted a tribute to her father on her social media profile last week, saying “I hope I am making you proud”.
She has already more than lived up to her father’s legacy with a fantastic tournament that she has been a major part of with her high-pressure goals for Morocco, but now she and the Atlas Lionesses want to go all the way.
“The whole group knew that this tournament could change a lot of things in women's football in Morocco and that if we gave a good account of ourselves it would encourage the growth of women’s football,” who praised the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for their work over the years in developing women’s football and helping the under 17 women’s national team qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
The Atlas Lionesses have also booked their ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 at this tournament.
Now they want to cap the perfect WAFCON for the home country by lifting the trophy and sending their country into a female football frenzy.
Kick off for the WAFCON 2022 final is at 8pm local time.