POST-DRAW REACTIONS AT THE TOTALENERGIES WOMEN’S AFCON 2022

The draw for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2022 took place on Friday in Rabat.

Playing at home on the opening day, Atlas Lionesses will have all to prove against the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

The draw paved the way to the final and here are some reactions to the results.

Kanizat Ibrahim (Chairperson of CAF Women’s Football Organizing Committee)                                              First, we must congratulate the work that has been done. The draw was done in a very transparent way, and we are expecting a very good game for the month of July. CAF has been working so hard to develop women’s football and offer more opportunities of play. Now, we hope that the teams will be in good shape and that we will have a great show. And so, we hope that journalists will cover the event because it is very important for the women’s AFCON. We need a lot of visibility, so we really count on everyone’s presence.

Nawal Moutawakel (Guest Legend)                                                                                                                         I was happy to participate. It’s not my first experience (as a draw assistant) but the stage fright is still there. We don’t know who will compete against whom. We have seen that Morocco has a position which is not easy and which is not difficult either. Our lionesses are determined; they are fighters, they are dedicated women who have as many qualities as their competitors. I wish them good luck and every success.

Ajara Njoya (Guest Legend, Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon)                                                                        All three groups are really balanced. There are several teams that have qualified for a WAFCON for the first time and that’s really to be congratulated. We are going to have a very good competition. There are 12 countries that will take part in the tournament. This is the first time in history. It needs to be congratulated.

Renayld Pedros (Coach, Morocco)                                                                                                                        It’s always difficult to get an opinion like that, it’s always easier on TV. Afterwards, we know very well that the matches have to be played, they have to be won. Do not forget that Morocco are playing their first WAFCON at home. Certainly, so it also creates additional emotions. Now our goal? For a little over a year and a half, it has been clear: it is to do well in this WAFCON, it is to qualify at least for the semi-finals, to go to the World Cup. And afterwards, if we are in the semi-finals, if we are lucky enough to be there, everything will be possible. Everything will be allowed to us in any case. But now, we are focusing today on our group. We now have the names of the countries against which we will play. Especially the opening match, so we’re going to start working a little more in depth with the staff to look at these teams. But here we are, we also don’t forget that we have things to put forward. We have a group that is solid, a group that works well and in any case the objective is to be ready for the opening match.