Morocco's women’s futsal team seeks its first home CAN title

The Moroccan women's futsal team is gearing up for its debut in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), which will take place from April 22 to 30, 2025, in Morocco. Following the national men's team's historic victories on the world and continental stages, the Lionnes de l’Atlas face the pressure of replicating their male counterparts’ success. Their performance in this competition is critical as it also serves as a qualifier for the upcoming World Cup in the Philippines.

The team’s first match will be against Namibia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex on April 22. Namibia, a newcomer to futsal, has ambitious goals for this tournament. Namibian coach Donalwald Modise expressed his excitement about the competition, saying, “The players are excited and working hard. This is a great opportunity for them to experience how futsal has evolved in Africa.”

Modise also spoke about his team's preparation, noting that they are working intensely twice a day to improve fitness and match intensity. Namibia is determined to challenge Morocco’s national team, who will enjoy the psychological advantage of competing at home.

While the Moroccan team’s ambitions are high, they face the challenge of their limited experience in futsal, despite having professional football players like Zineb Roudani, Doha El Madani, and Chirine Knaidil on the roster. The question remains: will these football players successfully transition to futsal?

Futsal, which is similar to five-a-side football, requires strong mental focus, technical skill, speed, and quick thinking. It is a crucial step in the development of young female athletes, and Moroccan coach Adil Sayeh is prepared to lead the team through this transition. Sayeh, who previously coached the U23 national team, is known for his extensive experience both domestically and internationally. His appointment was backed by Hicham Dguig, who highlighted Sayeh’s achievements, including leading the U23 team to victory in an international tournament in Vietnam, where they triumphed over Iran.

The Moroccan team has been preparing for the tournament with international friendlies, including two matches against Finland, which resulted in a 1-5 loss and a 4-3 victory. In March, the team also faced Senegal in two friendly matches, winning 6-2 and 13-0.