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WAFCON 2022: Morocco seal top spot in group A

By Our Reporter On Jul 9, 2022 0

Hosts Morocco sealed top spot in their 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations group A following a 1-0 win over Covid-19 hit Senegal at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Friday.

A penalty from Ghizlane Chebbak settled the contest in the favour of the north Africans and sees them end the pool stage with a 100 per cent record. Senegal finish second in the pool and also advance to the quarterfinals.

#TeamMorocco’s backbone 💪#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame pic.twitter.com/mv2kLFvRbw

— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 9, 2022

Morocco will now face one of the best third-placed teams from either group B or C in the next stage, where victory would seal a place at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Senegal will face the winner of group B, which could be any one of Zambia, Tunisia or Cameroon.

The four semifinalists at the African championship qualify automatically for the global showpiece, with two of the losing quarterfinalists having to go through a difficult route via the inter-continental playoffs.

Senegal were dealt a blow before kick-off when a trio of players tested positive for Covid-19, leaving them without strikers Coumba Sylla Mbodji and Nguenar Ndiaye, and defender Anta Dembele.

It was disruptive to their plans as three staff members also went into isolation after testing positive.

The opening half was one of few chances as the teams rather cancelled each other out, but the best opportunity fell to the home side.

Morocco should have taken the lead when Rosella Ayane met Fatima Tagnaout’s superb cross, but somehow steered her header wide of goal from point-blank range. It was a poor miss from the Tottenham Hotspur player.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐀 ✅

Here’s how the group looks after the conclusion of matchday 3 📝#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame pic.twitter.com/HMb2tjmLPQ

— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 9, 2022

Morocco dominated possession after that but only created half-chances, with their effort at goal either weak or off-target.The home side received a penalty early in the second period when Chebbak’s cross struck the arm of Salimata Ndiaye and, following a Video Assistant Referee review, the spot-kick was awarded by South African referee Akhona Makalima.

Chebbak, who is the daughter of former Morocco international Larbi Chebbak, had no trouble converting from 12 yards as she moved to the top of the goal-scorers charts with her third goal of the competition.

Senegal had an excellent chance to equalise when giant 17-year-old forward Hapsatou Diallo burst into the box, but she attempted a cross when she should have shot and the ball was easy for home goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi to collect.