Ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, Nigeria’s head coach Justin Madugu and Morocco’s Jorge Vilda have thrown their weight behind their teams, expressing unwavering confidence in their respective squads’ abilities to rise to the occasion.
The Super Falcons, chasing a record-extending 10th title, face host nation Morocco in a pulsating finale set to unfold on Saturday night at the Stade Olympique in Rabat.
For Morocco, it is a golden opportunity to win their maiden WAFCON crown in front of a raucous home crowd.
Madugu, who stepped into the head coach role after Randy Waldrum’s departure, exuded calm and assurance ahead of the showdown. He believes his squad has the mental strength and discipline to thrive under pressure, despite the inevitable noise that comes with playing against the host nation.
“They are very focused. They know the purpose of which we are here. They know why we are here,” Madugu said at the pre-match press conference.
“They have not allowed anything to distract them. They are getting focused. They are remaining focused.”
Having led the Super Falcons through a challenging tournament, which included a nerve-wracking semi-final win over defending champions South Africa, Madugu praised his players’ unity and maturity.
“And you can see it’s also telling in the way they perform on the field of play. Even when things don’t go their way, they have a way of getting themselves together and encouraging each other, and motivating each other,” he added.
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On the other side of the touchline, Morocco’s bench is helmed by one of the most accomplished names in women’s football: Jorge Vilda.
The former Spain head coach arrives with a glittering CV: winner of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, UEFA Women’s Under-17 and Under-19 Championships, Algarve and Cyprus Cups, and multiple medals at youth level with Spain.
Now entrusted with the task of leading the Atlas Lionesses to continental glory, Vilda is relishing the experience and the enthusiasm surrounding women’s football in the host nation.
“I'm preparing with the Moroccan women's national team for tomorrow's Africa Cup final,” Vilda told Mundo Deportivo.
“We're playing against Nigeria, a team with eleven goals and only one was a penalty.
“And I'm really enjoying it because in Morocco, the fans are so attentive. It's truly amazing how people experience it. It's already been two and a half months of training camp, where the players have grown and evolved a lot.”
The Super Falcons, unbeaten in the tournament, will aim to use their experience and pedigree to silence the home crowd, while Morocco will be hoping to complete a fairy tale on home soil.
Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 pm local time on Saturday, July 26.
