Morocco and South Africa will battle for the right to be crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions when they meet in the final on Saturday night.
The match will be held at Mohamed V Stadium in Rabat, kick-off at 22h00 CAT.
The Atlas Lionesses secured their place in the final after defeating holders Nigeria 5-4 in post match penalties in a semi-final match played on Monday.
Morocco will be making their first final in their history thus they will be looking to win their maiden title in the continental tournament.
The Atlas Lionesses coach Reynald Pedros will be look for his key players Mssoudy Sanaa and Yasin Mrabet.
“We have been working on this for more than a year,” Pedros told reporters in a pre-match interview . “We arrive with some certainties and now we have to express it on the pitch. The enthusiasm of the public ensures we have to perform in every match with heart and desire.
“They [South Africa] are the best team in Africa, along with Nigeria, but they have completely different characteristics. They are a team that plays good football, very technical. It will be a different style of play, a different opponent, but we are also here to impose our game and our style.
“We’re going to do exactly the same thing. We’ve worked the same way and we’ve changed nothing at all. We’re good at what we are doing, and I don’t see the point of changing anything.”
“All that I hope is that we win this final and that there is a show and a feast for the 50 000 fans who will be there to enjoy themselves and I hope it will be a great game.”
Meanwhile, South Africa progressed to the final after defeating Zambia Copper Queens’ 1-0 in a semi-final match on Wednesday.
The Banyana Banyana will be in search of a first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown in what is their sixth final appearance.
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis, who is the reigning CAF women coach of the year , will look to her captain Jane Refiloe and Melinda Kgadiete.
“When I look at the players now, they are so mentally focused, they are so happy and united. They want this trophy really badly. I thanked all of them personally for getting us this far and qualifying for the World Cup, but I told them to be ready for the final push,” Ellis told www.safa.net
“Tomorrow is their day to shine and bring that trophy back home. The atmosphere is going to be absorbing because of the home crowd, but I have full confidence in my players that they will bring the trophy to South Africa.”
Both sides have never met in a competitive fixture before, but Banyana have already beaten north African opposition in this year’s campaign when they ousted Tunisia in the quarterfinals.
