A few days before the opening whistle of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, held in India from 11 to 30 October, Atlas Lioncelles have great ambitions to score in the most beautiful way Morocco’s first participation in this event. high mass.
Motivated, aggressive and especially united, the Lioncelles de l’Atlas claim to want to give their best to go as far as possible in this world contest.
For Anthony Rimasson’s protégé to qualify for this 7th edition after a historic comeback in Rabat at the expense of Ghana, the stakes are high. Crossing swords with Brazil and the United States in the first round seems the most difficult task, but the spirit of defiance and long-term work will be the winning recipe for National Eleven.
If the Lioncelles make their first appearance in this sporting event, the Bersilliennes are in their 6th participation while the Americans, finalists of the 2008 inaugural edition, are making their fifth participation.
To put in a good performance in this competition, the national team, which landed on October 1 in Goa in western India, did some sprints, punctuated by friendlies against including Portugal and Chile, also qualified for this World Cup.
“Arriving ten days before the start of the World Cup allowed us to adjust and get our bearings. Training sessions are scheduled every day,” national team coach Anthony Rimasson told MAP.
“We are indeed placed in a difficult group, with India, the host country, in addition to Brazil and the United States, but Morocco also has a say in this edition,” he said.
The U17 national team’s qualification for this World Cup was the fruit of several years of hard work, she added, noting that qualifying for this final phase was already a big win and a major turning point for the development of women’s football in Morocco. .
And to remember that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has provided all the necessary means for the team and has allowed it to prepare itself in optimal conditions.
Placed in Group A, Morocco will also face India, the host country that will cause distrust. Indians don’t look like outsiders at all as they have sizeable assets that can turn things around.
In this regard, former India international Inivalappil Vijayan, president of the Indian Football Federation’s technical committee, considers the U17-Women a “significant event for India and a great privilege to play at such a level”.
For Indians, he commented in a statement to the press, “this is the best age to play against some of the best teams in the world and above all there is absolutely no pressure on them”.
Keep in mind that Spain, the defending champions, who beat Mexico in the final of the 2018 edition, are placed in group C with Colombia, China and Mexico, while group D consists of Japan, Tanzania, Canada and France. Pool B includes Germany, Nigeria, New Zealand and Chile.
After winning the trophy in 2008 and 2016, North Korea became the most successful team in the tournament’s history, while Japan, Spain, South Korea and France each won the title once. .
