Morocco focused on defensive solidity ahead of Women’s AFCON clash with Senegal, says coach Jorge Vilda

Morocco head coach Jorge Vilda says his team’s preparations for Saturday’s crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group-stage fixture against Senegal have centred on addressing defensive weaknesses identified in their previous matches.

Speaking during a pre-match press conference in Rabat, Vilda emphasised that the technical staff has placed significant emphasis on tightening the team’s defensive structure ahead of the Group A decider, set to take place at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat at 8:00 p.m.

“We’ve worked hard on correcting the defensive lapses we noticed during our matches against Zambia and DR Congo,” Vilda said. “Senegal is a well-organised and cohesive team with strong pace and a real threat from set pieces. We’ve taken that into account and prepared to deliver a solid performance and get the win we’re targeting.”

Morocco currently top Group A with four points, level with Zambia but ahead on goal difference. Senegal follow with three points, while DR Congo sit bottom of the group without a point. Saturday’s encounter will be decisive in determining who advances to the knockout rounds and in what position.

Vilda, who took charge of the Atlas Lionesses earlier this year, acknowledged that while his side has struggled at times during the group stage, the players have demonstrated resilience.

“We’ve had difficult moments in both games,” he admitted. “But we showed the capacity to come from behind. Now we’re aiming for victory to secure first place in the group.”

Moroccan midfielder Sakina Ouzraoui echoed her coach’s sentiments, highlighting the team’s focus and awareness of what is at stake. She also cautioned against drawing comparisons with past results, including a resounding 7–0 friendly win over Senegal.

“That match was a different context,” Ouzraoui said. “This is the group stage of the AFCON, and Senegal has shown significant progress since then. We’re expecting a tougher, more structured side. We’ve prepared well, especially on the defensive side, and we know the responsibility that comes with wearing the national shirt.”

On the opposite bench, Senegal’s head coach Mame Moussa Cissé underlined that his team is physically and mentally ready for the challenge. He praised his players’ recovery following a demanding 3–2 loss to Zambia in their previous match and reaffirmed their commitment to reaching the quarter-finals.

“The players are aware of the importance of this match,” Cissé stated. “We’ve worked on our physical condition and focused on mental preparation. Morocco is a strong team and will have the support of their fans, but we’re ready to push ourselves to the limit.”

Senegal will need a victory to guarantee a place in the last eight, while Morocco could advance with a draw but are determined to finish top of the group. With both teams fully motivated and qualification on the line, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown in Rabat.

As the Women’s AFCON group stage draws to a close, Saturday’s clash promises to be one of the tournament’s most compelling contests so far, with both Morocco and Senegal eyeing a place in the quarter-finals.