Morocco coach Jorge Vilda has said his side are ready to face Nigeria ahead of Saturday’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, expressing confidence in his team’s mental strength to overcome their more physically imposing opponents.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, who led Spain to Women’s World Cup success in 2023 before his controversial departure following the Luis Rubiales kissing scandal, believes his Atlas Lionesses have demonstrated the psychological fortitude required to claim Morocco’s first continental title.
Vilda’s appointment by Morocco was met with mixed reactions given the circumstances of his exit from the Spain job, where he was cleared of coercion allegations but left amid the fallout from then-federation president Rubiales’ assault on player Jenni Hermoso.
However, the coach has quickly won over players and fans with his tactical acumen and motivational skills.
The coach praised Nigeria’s tournament progression, acknowledging their improvement throughout the competition, saying, “Nigeria have shown a lot of improvement through the tournament and overcome some very difficult teams, but we are going to face them without any inferiority complex.”
The former Spain boss has had to navigate several challenging moments during Morocco’s run to the final, including falling behind twice against Zambia in the opening game and trailing Ghana at half-time in the semi-final. His tactical adjustments have proven crucial, particularly in the semi-final, where his changes at the break transformed Morocco’s performance.
Vilda insisted Morocco would be mentally tough enough to take on Nigeria’s formidable reputation and rich WAFCON history. The Super Falcons have never lost a final in nine previous attempts and are seeking a record-extending 10th title.
“The psychological aspect overrides the physical one in games like this,” he added.
“Nigeria has strong physical players with very outstanding players in terms of their individual qualities. They play in big leagues and have won the trophy many times.”
The coach revealed injury concerns ahead of the final, confirming that striker Fatima Tagnaout was a doubt and faced a fitness test on Friday during their final training session. Such selection dilemmas highlight the challenge of preparing for such a significant fixture while managing player availability.
Should Vilda guide Morocco to victory, he would achieve a unique double, having won the Women’s World Cup with Spain and potentially becoming the first coach to lead a North African side to WAFCON glory. His presence could be the catalyst for a historic triumph that would justify Morocco’s controversial coaching appointment.
