My First World Cup: What to expect from Zambia and Morocco
With the Women’s World Cup expanding to 32 teams for the first time ever in 2023, it is little surprise that there will be as many as eight teams competing in the world’s premier international competition for the very first time in Australia and New Zealand. Here, The Sports Gazette assesses what can be expected from Zambia and Morocco as they get set to compete at their first World Cup.
Zambia
World Ranking: 77th
Despite being the lowest-ranked team to qualify for this World Cup, Zambia have caught the eye on the international stage repeatedly over the past few years. A first-ever appearance at the Olympics at Tokyo 2020 produced a 4-4 draw with China and a 10-3 defeat to the Netherlands, yet it is a third-place finish at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations that secured them a place in Australia and New Zealand.
Bruce Mwape’s side conceded just three goals in the tournament in Morocco, suggesting the defensive frailties that troubled them in Japan have been addressed. However, two convincing defeats to South Korea in the last round of friendly matches were an indication of the scale of the task that awaits them on the biggest stage.
Star striker and captain Barbra Banda missed last year’s WAFCON after being ruled ineligible to compete by CAF following a gender verification test that deemed her natural testosterone levels to be above those allowed. She is set to feature in this tournament though and will be looking to continue her excellent goal-scoring form for club and country.
Manager: Bruce Mwape
Mwape has been the figurehead leading Zambia’s recent success since 2018 and he is not short of confidence in his charges ahead of the World Cup. Speaking after the group stage draw, he suggested that his team can ‘show the world that we can play any team in the World Cup’ and indicated that he felt his side had a chance of making it beyond the group stage.
Ensuring that the Copper Queens defence is just as miserly as it was at the WAFCON will be a priority given the opening two games against Japan and Spain are likely to prove tough. Mwape’s ability to provide Banda with a platform to shine will be the key to posing problems at the other end of the pitch.
Key Player: Barbra Banda
She may have missed the chance to terrify defences at the most recent WAFCON, but Banda should still be giving centre-backs sleepless nights ahead of the World Cup. She is the first women’s player to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Olympics and her club form means potential suitors around the world will be keeping tabs on the 23-year-old.
The Shanghai Shengli striker began her career in China with a golden boot after scoring 18 goals in just 13 matches and, after finding the net 10 times in last year’s COSAFA Cup for Zambia, she is more than ready to test her goal-scoring credentials at this level.
Group and Fixtures: Group C
22nd July 7pm – Japan (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
26th July 7.30pm – Spain (Eden Park, Auckland)
31st July 7pm – Costa Rica (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
Although neither Japan nor Spain find themselves in particularly good form nor morale heading into this tournament, they will both surely represent significant opposition for Zambia to overcome in their first two games. Bettering the single point they picked up in their Tokyo Olympics group would represent success.
Morocco
World Ranking: 72nd
It is fitting that Morocco have reached their first Women’s World Cup in the middle of a golden age for football in the North African country. Not only did the men’s side reach the semi-finals of Qatar 2022, but Reynald Pedros’ team reached the final of WAFCON for the first time last July.
Although they lost that final on home soil to South Africa, Morocco’s progress secured qualification for Australia and New Zealand, and they now they have an opportunity to impress on a global stage.
Qualification from Group H will be difficult, but Morocco have already made history by reaching the group stage. They will be the first Arab country ever to compete at a Women’s World Cup.
Manager: Reynald Pedros
A decorated former player with 25 caps for France, Pedros has also had success as a manager. He won back-to-back UEFA Women’s Champions Leagues with Lyon between 2017 and 2019 and has guided Morocco to an unprecedented level of success over recent years.
He has shown a willingness to experiment with a tried and tested 4-3-3 formation in recent friendly matches but a mixed bag in terms of results may mean that he reverts to type for a daunting opening group fixture against Germany.
Key Player: Ghizlane Chebbak
One of a number of players who will be representing Morocco’s leading club side and current CAF Women’s Champions League holders AS FAR, Chebbak is an influential presence for the Atlas Lionnesses combining her role as captain with that of record goal-scorer.
Now 32, she has been crowned Morocco’s player of the year a record five times and is more than living up to the legacy of her father Larbi Chebbak, who won AFCON with Morocco in 1976. Having been awarded player of the tournament and the golden boot at last year’s WAFCON, Chebbak has earned a shot at the World Cup as much as anyone.
Group and Fixtures: Group H
24th July 6.30pm – Germany (Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne)
30th July 2pm – Korea Republic (Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide)
3rd August 6pm – Colombia (Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth)
As should be expected for a newcomer to the tournament, Morocco have been presented with a tough group at their first-ever World Cup. They have never faced any of their fellow members of Group H at international level before, and an opening fixture against two-time world champions Germany should excite as much as it intimidates.
