Jorge Vilda is no longer in charge of Morocco’s senior women’s national team, though the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has stopped short of issuing a formal dismissal or an official announcement regarding his departure, according to reports from ABC. The federation instead announced a training camp for the Atlas Lionesses under coach Eric Blahic, who debuted with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, leaving Vilda’s administrative status unaddressed in official channels.
The Quiet Exit Strategy in Rabat
The Moroccan federation has routinely used a quiet separation process for national team coaches, quietly removing personnel from the daily spotlight while negotiating financial settlements to avoid public disputes. Vilda took over the post in October 2023, arriving just a month after the Royal Spanish Football Federation dismissed him in the wake of the Women’s World Cup victory and the ensuing Rubiales controversy. Upon moving to North Africa, he assembled a Spanish coaching staff that has since largely dismantled. Fitness coach Juan Carlos Lozano departed early, assistant Miguel Ángel Sopuerta left in November 2025, and goalkeeping coach Diego Díaz alongside Kenyo Gonzalo have also exited while awaiting their severance packages. Only Moroccan assistant coach Shaad Guermane remains on staff under the new setup.
Stalled Finals and Missed Targets on the Pitch
On the field, Vilda’s tenure yielded an uneven sporting record defined by close margins in major continental tournaments. Hosting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on July 26, 2025, Morocco built a 2-0 lead against Nigeria inside the opening half hour before conceding three unanswered goals, culminating in an 88th-minute winner that handed them a 2-3 defeat. That result marked the second final loss for the program without securing its first major title, compounded by missing qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. Another home tournament in 2026 ended in a semifinal loss to Cameroon, though the team successfully secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. ABC reports that internal evaluations prioritized winning trophies on home soil over qualification milestones, driving the decision to remove the coach despite a solidified standing among Africa’s elite teams.
A Potential Return to Men’s Football
Speculation inside Moroccan football circles points toward Vilda transitioning into a role within the federation’s men’s national team structure, likely focused on youth categories, though his exact responsibilities remain undefined. The prospective reassignment functions internally as a pressure tactic to encourage a voluntary departure rather than a vote of confidence in the former world champion coach. Vilda originally launched his coaching career within the boys’ youth ranks at CD Canillas, a neighborhood club in Madrid where he went by Jordi, prior to moving into the RFEF youth system. The current developments suggest a potential circle back to men’s youth football as his next professional chapter opens.
Timeline of the Coaching Transition
- October 2023: Jorge Vilda is appointed head coach of Morocco’s senior women’s team following his departure from the RFEF.
- July 26, 2025: Morocco loses 3-2 to Nigeria in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat after leading 2-0.
- November 2025: Assistant coach Miguel Ángel Sopuerta departs the coaching staff, following earlier exits.
- March 2026: Eric Blahic takes charge of an Atlas Lionesses training camp and defeats Uzbekistan 3-1, while Vilda’s departure remains unannounced by the federation.
Questions Unanswered in the Federation’s Silence
Why has the Royal Moroccan Football Federation refrained from publishing a formal statement regarding Jorge Vilda’s departure? The governing body has maintained silence, utilizing its standard procedure of removing personnel from active duties while negotiating financial terms behind closed doors. What remains of Vilda’s original coaching staff in Morocco? Only assistant coach Shaad Guermane remains with the program, as the Spanish staff assembled in late 2023 has entirely dissolved.
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