For Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak, the disappointment of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations has been difficult to process, but the Atlas Lionesses' journey has also provided important lessons for the future.
Speaking after Morocco's campaign came to an end, Chebbak identified penalty shootouts as a major mental challenge for the team, explaining that preparing for them in training is very different from facing the same pressure in a competitive match.
The Mental Challenge of Penalties
Chebbak explained that the players regularly practiced penalties during training sessions, but the atmosphere changes completely when the moment arrives in an official match.
The pressure of the occasion, the responsibility carried by each player, and the presence of thousands of supporters can create a completely different psychological environment.
- "We worked on penalty kicks in training, but it is not the same when you take them in front of the crowd," Chebbak explained.
The captain believes the team can overcome that challenge with experience and continued preparation.
- "God willing, we will overcome this problem in the future," she added.
A Message to the Moroccan Fans
Chebbak also delivered an emotional message to the supporters who backed the Atlas Lionesses throughout their campaign.
The Moroccan captain asked for forgiveness on behalf of herself and her teammates, while emphasizing how much the players appreciated the unwavering support they received from the stands.
- "I ask for forgiveness from the Moroccan fans, on my behalf and on behalf of the other players," she said.
She also highlighted the team's desire to repay that support with success, explaining that the players entered every match determined to bring joy to the country.
Morocco Created the Chances
Chebbak pointed to one statistic that illustrates the team's attacking efforts throughout the campaign.
- "We created 23 chances, but scored only one goal," she said.
For the captain, the figure reflects a team that continued to search for solutions and create opportunities, even when the final outcome did not match the players' ambitions.
Those lessons can now become part of Morocco's preparation for the challenges ahead.
Turning Disappointment Into Experience
The Atlas Lionesses have established themselves among Africa's leading women's national teams in recent years, and Chebbak believes the difficult moments of this tournament can help the group grow stronger.
The experience of competing under immense pressure, particularly in decisive moments, can become valuable preparation for future continental campaigns.
The disappointment will remain, but so will the belief. For Ghizlane Chebbak and the Atlas Lionesses, the next chapter begins with turning every difficult moment into another lesson on the road toward Morocco's long-awaited continental dream.