Morocco have appointed French coach Eric Blahic as the new head coach of the women’s national team, setting the stage for a new era ahead of a potentially crucial Olympic qualifying showdown against Nigeria.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed Blahic’s appointment on Wednesday, October 7, with the 61-year-old replacing Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, who led the Atlas Lionesses to a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. 

Blahic takes charge at a significant moment for Moroccan women’s football, with the team preparing for the next round of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers after advancing directly to the third round following Congo-Brazzaville’s withdrawal from the competition. 

Morocco’s next Olympic qualifying opponent will be determined by the outcome of the second-round tie between Nigeria and Comoros, meaning a victory for the Super Falcons would set up a high-profile clash with the North Africans.

The encounter, expected in February 2027, will therefore give Blahic an early major test in his first assignment as a national team head coach.

The Frenchman brings considerable experience from the technical side of the game, although his career has largely been built around assistant coaching positions.

He previously worked with Paris Saint-Germain, Sochaux, Bordeaux, Guingamp and Nantes, while also serving on the France women’s national team staff. 

Blahic worked alongside former France women’s head coach Corinne Diacre before returning to the national team setup under Hervé Renard between 2023 and 2024.

During Renard’s tenure, he was part of the France women’s technical staff at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

His appointment represents his first opportunity to lead a national team as head coach, making the Morocco job a major step in his managerial career.

Blahic has already begun work with the Atlas Lionesses at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, where Morocco are preparing for two international friendly matches against Uzbekistan on October 9 and 12. 

The first friendly will be played at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, while the second is scheduled for the Al Madina Stadium.

The friendlies were arranged after Congo-Brazzaville withdrew from the Olympic qualifying competition, leaving Morocco without a competitive fixture during the current international window. 

The new coach will now use the Uzbekistan games to assess his squad and begin implementing his ideas before the more demanding Olympic qualifying assignment ahead.

The immediate priority for Nigeria remains securing progress against Comoros. Should the Super Falcons overcome the island nation, they will face a Morocco side entering the contest under a new technical regime.

That prospect adds another layer of intrigue to the anticipated Nigeria-Morocco encounter, with both nations targeting qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

For Blahic, the challenge will be to quickly build on Morocco’s recent progress while converting their growing investment in women’s football into success on the international stage.