It was her evening. Her scoring. Her tempo. Ghizlane Chebbak, armband on her arm, delighted the crowd at the Stade Olympique in Rabat on Wednesday like never before. A hat-trick of masterful moves and a constant presence: the captain of the Atlas Lionesses single-handedly embodied the Moroccan revolt in this wild match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (4-2), on Matchday 5 of the group stages of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024.
History may remember the numbers—a hat-trick for a national team in a high-stakes match is no small feat—but those who watched this match will long speak of the manner in which this was achieved. Sharp touches, eagle-like vision above the rest, and above all, the feeling that every time she touched the ball, something could happen. And often, something did.
The Fire After the Storm
And yet, things had not started out as dreamy for the Moroccans. Trailing 1-0 in the sixth minute thanks to a goal from Merveille Kanjinga, Chebbak’s teammates had reason to doubt. Sloppy on the restart, sometimes disorganized in the heart of the game, they struggled to impose their rhythm against a Congolese team that was well-positioned, united and playful.
It took a spark. It came, as it often does, from the right foot of the Moroccan number 7. In the 25th minute, a pass from Ibtissam Jraidi, the Levante player found the top corner with a sumptuous shot. The crowd cheered. Morocco was able to breathe again. 20 minutes later, the captain doubled the lead, before concluding her performance by victoriously turning in a slick cross to the far post (75th minute). Three goals, three different signatures. Tailor-made.
“She transcended the team.”
“When Ghizlane is in that frame of mind, it is impossible to stop her,” said Moroccan coach Jorge Vilda after the match. “She transcended the team, led the way. She was everywhere: recovering, creating, finishing. Tonight, she played like a boss.”
In her fine form, the Lionesses rediscovered their signature style. Chebbak, a name that spans generations of Moroccan Women’s Football, once again made an impression. Not just with her goals, but with what she represents: a player with a sense of duty, character and a way of speaking up when the situation demands it. And against the DR Congo, a strong voice was needed to get the team back on track. It is worth noting that with her three goals, the Atlas Lioness takes the lead in the scoring charts with four goals so far.
Source: CAFONLINE.COM
