Moroccan women's passion for football goes beyond cheering to watching and analyzing matches.
The current World Cup has solidified the growing interest of women and girls in watching football matches in general, and supporting the national team in particular; women have emerged, as was the case during the last Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in the celebrations of Moroccan fans after every victory for the "Atlas Lions."
However, what stands out in women's following of football during this period is the transition from superficial analysis, which is limited to knowing the score and distinguishing the teams by their jersey colors, to something deeper; women have also become interested in tracking players' progress, analyzing match performances, and deducing factors for victory and reasons for defeat.
Zainab Benzakour, a young woman interested in following football, confirmed that the world of the round ball does not represent just a sport for her; it is a passion she experiences with every match.
Benzakour added, in a statement to Hespress, that her passion for the game has increased during the current World Cup, explaining that the tournament has a special character; "because it brings the whole world together around one thing. You see people from different countries and cultures cheering for their teams and experiencing the same emotions at the same time."
The young woman continued, explaining: "I love this sport because it carries a lot of emotions; joy, tension, excitement, and even disappointment. In every match, there is a story, and in every goal, a moment that stays in memory."
The student, who is continuing her studies in media, added: "I notice that girls' interest in football has become greater than before, and this is a beautiful thing. Today, supporting football is no longer just associated with men; many girls now follow matches, analyze performances, and are interested in sports news, and some have even chosen to work in the sports and media field."