Laâyoune: Women of the Moroccan Sahara raise their voices to support the Lions of the Atlas during CAN 2025
At the Municipal Women’s Club of Laâyoune, excitement was palpable on Monday evening, as football loving women gathered to follow the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Morocco 2025 match between the Moroccan national team and its Zambian counterpart, in an atmosphere marked by joy, enthusiasm, and a sense of national pride.
From the opening whistle, all attention was focused on the giant screen installed in this space dedicated to the comfort and fulfillment of the city’s women.
Present in large numbers, young students, mothers accompanied by their children, community activists, and club members supported the national eleven without pause throughout the match, reflecting the growing enthusiasm of women in Laâyoune and more broadly in the southern provinces for football.
As the actions unfolded and scoring chances arose, cheers and applause punctuated the match. Proudly wearing the national colors, the supporters of the Lions of the Atlas chanted and shouted slogans of support, praising the performances of the Moroccan national team.
In a statement to MAP, the director of the Municipal Women’s Club, Souad Khouja, indicated that this initiative falls within the framework of activities organized by the club to promote women’s participation in sports and civic life.
“We wanted to offer the women of Laâyoune a collective space to fully experience the passion of this sporting event, in a spirit of sharing and under the best conditions,” she explained, stressing that the love of football transcends gender.
For her part, Hakima, a devoted supporter of the national team, said that “football has become a universal language that brings together all components of society,” noting that women in Laâyoune are showing an increasingly strong interest in following the national team during major competitions.
“We are gradually witnessing a growing enthusiasm among girls for football, whether as players, spectators, or supporters in the stadiums,” she said with delight, wearing a melhfa, the traditional dress of women in the southern provinces.
At the final whistle, the emphatic 3-0 victory of the Lions of the Atlas, which secured Morocco’s qualification as leaders of Group A, gave rise to a moment of togetherness and shared joy inside the hall.
Editorial team/le7tv
