Morocco’s Defeat Completes Africa’s Exit from Women’s World Cup

France are through to a Women’s World Cup quarter-final against co-hosts Australia after ending Morocco’s historic campaign by beating them 4-0 in Adelaide.

The defeat of the North Africans completed Africa’s exit from the Mundial after South Africa and Nigeria have also lost out in the Round of 16 games against the Netherlands and England respectively.

Les Bleues were very much favourites to progress heading into the contest against the lowest-ranked side left in the tournament at 72nd in the world, who had been among the competition debutants this summer.

And the job looked all but done after world number five-ranked France hit a quickfire treble of first-half goals, with Kadidiatou Diani opening the scoring before providing assists for Kenza Dali and Eugenie Le Sommer.

Morocco, managed by former France international Reynald Pedros, had a less torrid time of it after the break but conceded again in the 70th minute when Le Sommer headed home.

Herve Renard’s team will now face Australia in Brisbane on Saturday in the last eight, looking to avoid elimination at that stage for a third World Cup in a row.

Eight months earlier, France similarly defeated Morocco’s senior men’s team at the semi final of the World Cup in Qatar.

Also yesterday, Colombia set up a World Cup quarter-final clash with England as they edged past Jamaica 1-0 in Melbourne thanks to Catalina Usme’s effort early in the second half.