Represent is a one-off Sky Sports series exploring how heritage, nationality and ethnicity interlink to make an athletes’ sporting identity.
Morocco made history at the 2023 Women’s World Cup when they became the first Arab nation to play in the tournament’s history. But no one could have been prepared for what the North African debutants would do when they arrived in Australia - beat Colombia and knock out two-time winners Germany, in one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup, maybe even of women’s football generally.
The Atlas Lionesses made it to the final 16, becoming the most successful debutant team in the history of the Women’s World Cup.
It was a moment in the game, as important as when their men’s team made it to the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
And at the heart of their qualification, success and history was a Tottenham Hotspur forward who was born and bred in Berkshire, Rosella Ayane.
This interview took place before the news emerged about former Spain boss Jorge Vilda's appointment as head coach of the Morocco women's team.
Ayane came through Chelsea’s Centre of Excellence and represented England at U17 and U19 level. She made appearances for Chelsea's senior team, then Bristol City and Everton on loan, before joining Cypriot first division side Apollon Limassol where she scored 19 goals in 19 games in her debut season.
In 2019, the 27-year-old signed for newly promoted Tottenham Hotspur where she has been playing ever since.
But the choice of who to represent on the international stage was between Morocco, where her dad is from, and Scotland where her mum is from.
“I wanted to play on the international stage,” she told Sky Sports. “I thought, I haven’t got long left in my football career.
“I’ve always had a close connection with my dad’s side of the family. I’ve been going to Morocco as long as I can remember. Everyone that knows me knows how much of a special place Morocco is for me,” she said.
“And when I think of putting on a Moroccan shirt, I think of all the times that I was in the streets with all the Moroccan girls and boys until around 10pm at night. Five, six, seven years old and I [was] just living my best life in the street, no care in the world for anything else that was going on.
“I’d be in the streets with all the neighbours’ kids running until my grandma would call me in to tell me dinner’s ready, I’d be out on the beach with my dad just playing football and they’re memories that I’m so fond of that I’ll never forget. And it’s one of the reasons why I wanted to play for Morocco.”
Ayane made her debut for the Atlas Lionesses in June 2021, and her first game - a friendly against Mali - couldn’t have gone better. Within a minute of entering the field, she scored and Morocco won the game 3-0.
“It feels extra special putting on that country’s shirt - you learn so much from being in and around the other girls who are living in Morocco," she said.
“You learn about the heritage, the religion. There’s so many aspects about Morocco that I thought maybe I knew before I played for Morocco but I’m just learning more and more every time I go on a camp.
“It’s amazing for me and something that I’m so glad I did because the impact that we’re having for women in Morocco is incredible.”
But how hard was it to make the decision between Scotland and Morocco?
“My mum and my aunties always ask me, ‘why didn’t you choose Scotland?’ But for me, it was kind of a no-brainer. I have such a close connection with Morocco. It just felt right.
“When I was deciding I didn’t really have to think about it, which for me, already says what my answer is. And it’s probably been the best choice that I’ve made.
“No offence to Scottish people, I love them too!”
'I have such a close connection to Morroco. It just felt right.'
History makers
In 2023, Morocco made history in when they became the first Arab nation to qualify and compete at the Women’s World Cup. Their qualification came from the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) that was held in Morocco for the first time - in which Ayane started in all six matches and scored two goals.
Their semi-final against three-time defending champions Nigeria couldn’t have been more dramatic, ending in a penalty shoot-out, with Ayane scoring the last penalty.
In the final, Morocco lost 2-1 to South Africa, with Ayane scoring the only goal for her country in the 80th minute in front of 51,000 fans in Rabat.
“It was an incredible moment for the country, for Arab women, for Arab women in sport. I think it’s massive," she said.
“Sometimes I really need to take a step back and look at what we’ve achieved because sometimes I can’t put it into words.
“It’s been a real journey and one that I’m going to be proud of for the rest of my life.”
When the Moroccan men’s team made the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, they became the first African team to make a semi-final in men’s World Cup history.
And in August, it was the Atlas Lionesses’ time to roar.
Knocking out women’s football giants Germany and becoming the most successful debutant team in the history of the Women’s World Cup was one thing. But what the team did for Arab and Muslim women all around the world, was another.
Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzine became the first Muslim woman wearing a hijab to play at the World Cup.
Morocco smashed perceptions and stereotypes of who Arab women are, imposed on them by so many other parts of the world.
And while there is no doubt still a long way to go, Morocco’s very existence at the 2023 World Cup felt like the beginning of a new and more representative kind of women’s football, and showed what is possible when women’s sports are properly invested in.
“Sometimes I just need to pinch myself with the journey that I’ve been on,” Ayane said.
Looking ahead
Ayane says an important part of her decision to play for Morocco was also growing and developing women’s football in Morocco.
The World Cup qualification for Morocco at the women's AFCON followed a comprehensive plan from the Moroccan Football Association to reform the country’s men and women’s national teams, with an aim of qualifying for World Cups.
“Even for Africa as a continent - it’s just amazing to represent that side of the world. I’m so proud to be flying the flag for Morocco, for Africa as a continent and for other countries that don’t necessarily get the recognition sometimes that they deserve.
“There was an aspect of unknown in the sense of playing in an AFCON, playing other teams in Africa that I would never experience anywhere else," Ayane said.
“There’s a lot of talent in Morocco, and they’ll eventually be picked up and spotted.”
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