AS FAR’s CAFWCL triumph: How Morocco’s investment built a two-time champion | OneFootball

AS FAR are building a dynasty. Their 2-1 victory over ASEC Mimosas in the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 final makes them the second club to have won the tournament twice, alongside Mamelodi Sundowns.

This marks another chapter in the book success of a multi-year project that has reshaped women’s club football in North Africa, Morocco in particular.

While the final in Ismailia delivered drama, the deeper story is one of structure, investment and a football ecosystem built to produce sustained success.

A final defined by composure

AS FAR approached the final with the confidence of a team that has been here before. Their early pressure forced ASEC into mistakes, and captain Hanane Aït El Haj converted a penalty in the 13th minute to give them the lead. They couldn’t have asked for a better start.

ASEC responded well and equalised through Ami Prisca Diallo in the second half from a brilliant assist by Sopie Philomène Marie Ange Brou, to bring ASEC level at 1-1.

However, AS FAR never lost their shape. Their compactness showed in tight spaces, and their ability to slow the match when needed kept them in control. There was a flurry of chances from both ends, with both goalkeepers called into action in the opening quarter of the second half.

Eventually, Zineb Redouani stepped up to score the decisive penalty in the 85th minute, sealing their second CAFWCL title in four years.

The final was tense, but AS FAR managed key moments better than their opponents and this led to a results that added another medal to the refulgent feathers of Morocco Football Association.

A tournament won through consistency

Although the spotlight naturally falls on the final, AS FAR’s run through the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 was defined by consistency. Throughout the group stage, they played with a clear identity. Their defensive line stayed compact, their midfield controlled tempo, and their wide players stretched opponents at will.

In the finals, AS FAR were even more convincing. Their transitions were sharp, their pressing well-timed, and their confidence evident. They rarely looked in danger across the tournament, and their experience from previous continental campaigns helped them manage pressure. Can we talk about the brilliance of their goal-keeper Khadija Er-Rmich, whose decisive saves and composure at critical moments ensured AS FAR made the finals?

This ability to maintain performance levels across multiple matches is one of the clearest signs of a well-run team. In a competition where intensity varies from match to match, AS FAR always looked prepared.

Key players who shaped AS FAR triumph

Several players stood out across the competition and played decisive roles in the title run, a couple of them are spotlighted below.

Hanane Aït El Haj continues to be the heartbeat of the team. As the captain, she provides leadership, set-piece quality, and a calm presence in difficult moments. Her early penalty in the final set the tone for the rest of the match

Zineb Erroudany, one of the best full-backs in Africa, contributed both defensively and offensively. Her match-winning penalty highlighted her confidence, but her disciplined positioning throughout the tournament was just as important.

Overall, AS FAR looked like a team whose individuals understood their roles and executed them flawlessly.

Why AS FAR keep winning

The most important question isn’t how AS FAR won the CAFWCL 2025, but why they keep winning.

The answer lies in Morocco’s long-term investment in women’s football. Over the past five years, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has poured resources into training facilities, coaching education, youth academies, and sports science. As a result, AS FAR have access to some of the best infrastructure on the continent.

Moreover, the domestic league is now professionalised, allowing players to train full-time and receive consistent technical development. This level of stability is rare across Africa and gives AS FAR a foundation other clubs cannot yet match.

Additionally, AS FAR benefit from squad continuity. Their core has remained together for the last three seasons, which has strengthened chemistry and ensured tactical familiarity. Their coaching structure has also remained stable, helping the team maintain a clear and evolving identity.

All of this reflects a simple truth: sustained investment produces sustained results.

With Ghizlane Chebbak recently winning the African player of the year, and the Morocco senior team making consecutive WAFCON finals, who knows, it might not be long before they finally taste their desired dream — to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

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