WAFCON 2022: Rosella Ayane on representing Morocco, the World Cup and being a role model
Rosella Ayane is eyeing up silverware and a place in the 2023 World Cup next summer in her first international tournament with Morocco as the Atlas Lionesses host their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Changing international allegiance
The former England youth international changed allegiances to the North African nation one year ago and hasn’t looked back since. She spoke to Sports Gazette journalist Alasdair Howorth for the On The Whistle Podcast.
“Obviously growing up with England youth it taught me a lot, but when I spoke with where Morocco was going as a nation and what they’re wanting to achieve, and with it being such a special place in my heart, it was a no-brainer. To just go on and do it. If I’m honest it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my football career,” Ayane said in an interview in the build up to the competition.
The Tottenham Hotspurs forward certainly made an instant impact. She scored in the first minute of her debut in a friendly against Mali and has since notched up five goals in seven matches for the Maghrib nation.
But it is an uphill task for Ayane and Morocco in this year’s addition of Africa’s premiere international tournament. The hosts have only ever qualified for the competition twice before in their history, failing to get out of the group stage in both attempts.
With the added incentive of a semi-final spot qualifying the nation for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, there is added pressure on the hosts to get out of their group with Senegal, Burkina Faso and Uganda and reach the semi-finals.
“From my perspective, it’s just another driving force to reach the final. I always say as soon as I knew that it was the top four that would qualify, that’s a minimum. I remember saying to my roommate every morning when we woke up. Top four, minimum. It will be the first time Morocco have been to a World Cup. I’m taking it as another driving force to motivate me.”
St George’s Park with palm trees
Despite their poor record on the international stage, Morocco come into the tournament as outside favourites following a period of transformation within the federation and their approach to women’s football in the Arab nation. Since the last WAFCON in 2018, Morocco has invested heavily in their women’s game. They have professionalised the top two divisions of the league pyramid as well as introducing regional leagues at every youth level.
The national side now has access to the same facilities and technical support as the men’s team, including access to the world class facilities at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Complex. Ayane describes the facilities as, “St George’s Park with palm trees.”
The team has also prepared better than any other going into the tournament, having already played seven matches this calendar year, more than any of their rivals going into the tournament. They have hit form at the right time, going over nine games undefeated since a loss in October at the hands of Spain.
The challenges of a new environment
But it hasn’t been plain sailing for Ayane in her transition to representing the nation she qualifies for through her father. Joining a new team can be hard at the best of times, but on top of that, there is a language barrier to overcome.
“It hurts to say, and I’m embarrassed that I don’t speak a word of French, and I can’t speak a word of Arabic, and that’s on me. It’s been tough for me because I want to be involved, and I want to show my personality off the pitch, and I’m trying to pick on French where I can and Arabic where I can when I speak with my family.
Making things worse, Ayane only joined the Moroccan set-up a year ago in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The forward, who was eligible to play for both England and Scotland, has yet to play in front of Moroccan fans. That hasn’t stopped her from being supported by thousands of football loving Moroccans.
“It’s been crazy to be honest, the support has been incredible for myself. It was a bit overwhelming at first. As soon as I played in my first camp and scored my first goal, the support just came flooding through. My Instagram account actually shut down for 20 minutes, just because it couldn’t take the overload of it.”
Setting standards for a new generation
But for Ayane, that support comes with a measure of responsibility as a role model in a sport that is rapidly growing in media attention and fan engagement.
On being a role model, Ayane said that, “It’s massive, even across the world some girls growing up didn’t have role models because football was never on television… They’ve never had role models. They never saw it as a career. They still don’t have certain opportunities that we may necessarily have in Europe… Little girls will probably not know that they’re able to become professional footballers in Africa or play for their country in major tournaments, and its people like us that will help make that change.”
Ayane now has the opportunity to seal her status as a continental icon with the Atlas Lionesses as they kick off their campaign tonight.
