Morocco's WAFCON 2026 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday as Algeria claimed the bronze medal after a dramatic penalty shootout at Rabat's Olympic Stadium.
The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, before Algeria prevailed 3-2 on penalties, leaving the Atlas Lionesses to close their home tournament without the medal they had hoped to secure.
Vilda: “We Are Extremely Sad”
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Jorge Vilda admitted his disappointment at the result while praising the effort of his players throughout the encounter.
The Spanish coach explained that Morocco had entered the match determined to finish the tournament with a bronze medal, but the final outcome did not reflect the team's ambitions.
- “We are extremely sad. We wanted to win the bronze medal, but that did not happen today.”
Morocco Believed It Could Win Before Penalties
Vilda insisted that Morocco had opportunities to settle the contest during regular time.
The Atlas Lionesses controlled large periods of the match and created chances that could have allowed them to secure victory before the encounter reached the lottery of penalties.
For the coach, the way the match unfolded made the eventual shootout particularly difficult to accept.
Another Late Penalty, Another Psychological Test
One of the biggest talking points was Morocco's missed penalty in the closing stages.
Vilda explained that the situation carried an additional psychological weight because the Atlas Lionesses had experienced a similar scenario against Nigeria in the semifinal.
- “We missed a penalty in the 95th minute, and after that it is very difficult psychologically to take part in a penalty shootout.”
The coach believes the responsibility surrounding the moment placed an additional burden on the players.
The Weight of Responsibility
Vilda suggested that the pressure of the occasion may have affected Morocco's concentration during the shootout.
- “I think the responsibility and the pressure affected us, especially after what happened during the match.”
The disappointment was amplified by the fact that the Atlas Lionesses had produced a performance they believed was strong enough to win the match before penalties.
A Painful Way to End the Tournament
Vilda also questioned whether a penalty shootout was a fitting way to determine the final position of a team after such a long tournament.
He argued that the method did not fully reflect the work and performance Morocco had produced throughout the match.
- “I don't think this was a fair way to finish the tournament, considering the great work the team has done and the way we played and controlled the match.”
A Campaign That Still Matters
Despite the heartbreak in Rabat, Morocco's journey once again demonstrated the progress of the Atlas Lionesses on the African stage.
The team reached the decisive stages of another WAFCON and competed for a medal until the final kick, with home supporters standing behind them throughout the campaign.
The bronze medal slipped away, but the passion, resilience, and ambition of the Atlas Lionesses remain. Their journey continues, and so does the dream of bringing Morocco its first WAFCON crown.