Morocco got their World Cup off to the start they wanted. On Saturday, October 17, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, the Atlas Lionesses beat New Zealand 4-0 on the opening day of Group A.
The first half gave little hint of what was coming. The young Moroccans had slightly the better of it without finding a way through, and the teams went in level at 0-0. Everything changed after the break. Sonia Abajiou, who plays for Frankfurt, opened the scoring in the 57th minute from an Hiba Youssoufi pass. Thirteen minutes later, New Zealand defender Eden Chaytor turned a shot from substitute Nessma Mouradi into her own net. Imane Dhissi of Borussia Mönchengladbach added a third in the 76th minute, set up by Aya Ait Khouya, before Youssoufi converted a penalty in the 82nd.
Youssoufi, who plays for AS FAR Rabat, was named player of the match. The win puts Youness Rabie’s side top of Group A with three points, ahead of Germany on goal difference after the Germans beat Argentina 2-1. Morocco face Germany next, on Tuesday, October 20.
It was a far tougher night for Nigeria. In Rabat, the Flamingos lost 2-1 to Poland in their first Group B match. Poland went ahead in the 33rd minute. Goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho had saved an effort from Zofia Cendrowska, but Ohunene Sunday fouled a Polish player on the rebound. After a video review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Wiktoria Skrzypczak tucked away.
Early in the second half, Poland had a second goal ruled out for offside in the 63rd minute. Two minutes later, Natalia Skrok punished a poor Nigerian clearance from a Blanka Zajac cross to make it 2-0. Coach Akeem Busari tried to change the game with a double substitution. Nigeria pulled one back from a free-kick in the 79th minute, and while Kanyinsola Yusuf was first named as the scorer, the goal was eventually credited to Oluebube Umejiaku. Nigeria pushed hard in the closing minutes, but the equaliser never came.
The Flamingos had arrived in Morocco with momentum. They had just won the WAFU-B U-17 Girls’ Championship in Côte d’Ivoire and booked their World Cup place by beating Benin in the final round of African qualifying. They now sit bottom of Group B alongside Puerto Rico, both without a point, while Poland and defending champions North Korea have three each. Nigeria play Puerto Rico on Tuesday, October 20, then North Korea on Friday, October 23. Anything less than a win in the next game could already prove costly.