Morocco women's team exits 2026 Africa Cup of Nations in fourth place

The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco, concludes with a final match between Cameroon and Malawi in Rabat. Egyptian referee Shahinda El-Maghraby has been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate the final, marking her third time handling a continental final in Morocco.

In contrast to the tournament's conclusion, the host nation's women's team, the 'Atlas Lionesses', faced a disappointing campaign. After failing to secure the title in previous editions hosted in Morocco, the team was eliminated in the semi-finals by Cameroon on penalties and subsequently finished fourth after a loss to Algeria in the third-place playoff.

The performance has raised questions regarding the tenure of Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, who was appointed in October 2023. Despite significant investment from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation into the women's game and high-profile coaching staff, the team has struggled to replicate the upward trajectory seen under previous management.