CAN 2022 Women: Reynald Pedros won his first bet with Morocco
Frenchman Reynald Pedros during Morocco's CAN 2022 quarter-final against Botswana.
© Courtesy of CAF
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
4 mins
The Morocco team qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on July 13 in Rabat, beating Botswana 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations ( CAN 2022).
For his coach, the French Reynald Pedros, appointed at the end of 2020, the contract is largely fulfilled with this first World Cup, even if the former midfielder does not intend to stop there and hopes to qualify for the final against Nigeria, July 18.
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From our special envoy to Morocco,
“
Do I have the head of someone who already has the head in Australia and New Zealand?
Reynald Pedros, manager of Morocco's women's national team, is as good at dribbling off questions he doesn't like in a press conference as he was at getting rid of opposing defenders in the 1990s. The former midfielder field of FC Nantes and the France team (1993-1997) however knows what a World Cup represents, he who was deprived of the 1994 World Cups (elimination against Bulgaria) and especially 1998 (not retained) .
Despite this, the one who has converted to women's football coach since 2017 does not want to stop at the historic qualification of Moroccan women, after a
2-1 victory against Botswana
at
CAN 2022
.
“
It was a stage
, he sweeps.
After the third group match, we never mentioned […] the fact of going to the semi-finals of the CAN to qualify for the World Cup.
We simply prepared this quarter-final face to win it.
And winning it meant going to the World Cup
.
Final or no CAN final, the fact remains that Pedros' bet with the Atlas Lionesses has largely already been won.
The left-hander took everyone on the wrong foot by accepting the project presented by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) at the end of 2020, after having nevertheless led Olympique Lyonnais (OL) for two seasons, often considered the best. women's club in the world.
Morocco was then indeed 81st in the Fifa Ranking and the 8th African nation only.
“
It may be surprising for people who do not know me
,
he explained to rfi.fr in February 2021
.
But I don't have a career plan.
I don't tell myself that, because I coached Lyon, I only want teams of the same level.
It would already be very complicated if I reasoned like that
.
"He
has reached new levels as a coach and as a man
"
This success on the sidelines no longer surprises his former Nantes teammate, Japhet N'Doram.
“
Reynald has already proven himself.
He had very good results everywhere he went.
His retraining is therefore no longer a surprise for anyone
, ”underlines the Chadian.
Reynald Pedros displays – at least from the outside – a strong character.
A personality that Japhet N'Doram imagined to be incompatible with his current functions.
"
It's a job that requires a lot of patience, indulgence, tolerance
, explains the former number 10.
When we played in Nantes, it was unimaginable to see him convert as a coach. .
[…] Reynald was a passionate player, demanding with himself, not to mention the requirement he imposed on those around him.
But a man has the right to evolve, grow and progress in all areas.
Reynald has taken steps on these levels as a coach and as a man
.
Moroccan players, they seem conquered.
"
He worked with the best and he was named Coach of the Year by FIFA in 2018
," said Moroccan striker Rosella Ayane a few weeks ago.
He won the Champions League
[as coach of OL, Editor's note]
and he himself was an international.
With such records, he has a lot to teach me.
Day after day, he insists on the qualities that make great professionals.
I believe our performances reflect his lessons
.”
CAN 2022 women: calendar, rankings and results
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