August 03, (THEWILL) – Morocco’s national women’s football team celebrated a momentous victory in Group H of the Women’s World Cup, earning their place in the round of 16 with an outstanding 1-0 win over Colombia.
Anissa Lahmari emerged as the hero, netting the sole goal that propelled her team to the knockout rounds. The North African side’s fervour shone through as they bounced back from a challenging start, ultimately finishing as runners-up in their group. This triumph marks a historic moment for Moroccan football, making them the third African nation to advance past the group stage, alongside South Africa and Nigeria.
Under the astute guidance of coach Reynald Pedros, Morocco demonstrated composure following their disheartening 6-0 loss to Germany in the opening fixture. The team responded magnificently, claiming consecutive 1-0 victories against South Korea and group leaders Colombia, earning their berth in the round of 16. A pivotal moment came just before halftime in the match against Colombia, with a penalty awarded to Morocco. Despite the initial save from the spot-kick, Anissa Lahmari exhibited her poise, seizing the opportunity and slotting home the rebound to deliver the crucial winning goal.
Africa, as a whole, is witnessing the success of its representatives at the Women’s World Cup, with more teams than anticipated advancing to the knockout rounds. Few could have predicted such a remarkable showing, underscoring the progress made by the continent’s teams in bridging the gap with the rest of the world.
While Zambia narrowly missed out on progressing, their 3-1 victory over Costa Rica provided a positive conclusion to their campaign. Morocco’s next challenge awaits them in the round of 16, where they will face France in what promises to be an enthralling clash of footballing abilities.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
