The Atlas Lionesses U17 experienced a difficult evening on home soil, falling 4-2 to Germany on Tuesday, October 20, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.
After opening their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-0 victory over New Zealand, the young Moroccan side faced a tougher challenge against a German team that showed its attacking strength early and maintained control for much of the contest.
Despite the setback, Morocco managed to respond with two second-half goals, demonstrating a fighting spirit that will be important heading into their final group-stage fixture.
Germany Takes Control Before Half-Time
Germany made its intentions clear in the opening half, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute through Marie Kleeman. Just seven minutes later, Lena Martens doubled the advantage, putting the European side in a strong position.
The pressure continued, and Germany found the net for a third time in first-half stoppage time, leaving Morocco with a significant challenge after the break.
The visitors extended their lead further in the 50th minute, converting a penalty to make it 4-0 and place the hosts under even greater pressure.
The Lionesses Show Character in the Second Half
With the game slipping away, Morocco continued to push forward in search of a response. Their efforts paid off in the 64th minute, when the young Lionesses scored their first goal of the match.
The hosts added another from the penalty spot in the 90th+5 minute, giving the scoreline a more competitive finish. However, the late push was not enough to overturn Germany’s advantage.
Although the result was disappointing, scoring twice against a strong opponent offered Morocco a positive element to take from a challenging encounter.
Group A Remains Wide Open
The defeat leaves Morocco on three points in Group A, following their opening-day victory over New Zealand. Germany, meanwhile, secured its second consecutive win after beating Argentina 2-1 in the first round.
The result makes Morocco’s next fixture particularly important as the team looks to strengthen its position and keep its campaign moving forward.
Argentina Up Next for Morocco
The Atlas Lionesses will return to the Mohammed VI Football Complex on Friday, October 23, to face Argentina, with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m. local time.
After the disappointment against Germany, the young Moroccan players will have an opportunity to respond in front of their home supporters. The opening victory has already shown what this team can achieve, and the focus now turns to producing another strong performance when it matters most.
For Morocco’s young Lionesses, the challenge is clear: regroup, learn from the defeat and fight for a positive result in their final group-stage match.