Morocco make history by becoming first Arab team to qualify for Women's World Cup 2023

Morocco's women's football team has qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history.

The Atlas Lionesses earned their place in the finals after defeating Botswana 2-1 on Wednesday during the quarter finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Morocco is the first North African country to host a WAFCON, and their victory has also made them the first nation from the region to qualify for the Women's World Cup, according to the BBC.

⌚️ 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋-𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄!#TeamMorocco 2-1 #TeamBotswana

Yasmin Mrabet’s header secures a precious victory for the Atlas Lionesses over Botswana! 🦁 #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame pic.twitter.com/PABG88wowl

— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 13, 2022

Sanaâ Mssoudy scored the Lionesses' first goal in the third minute, before Botswana’s Ketumitsi Ditebe levelled the match.

During the second half, player Yasmine Merabet scored Morocco's winning goal, taking her team to unprecedented success.

All WAFCON semi-finalists automatically qualify for the 32-team women's tournament in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Morocco's win saw them garner plaudits from around the world.

So proud 2-1 for morocco and we are qualified to the semi finals and the next world cup in australia the first world cup of our national team 😍😍#Womenfootball #cafwomenfootball #WAFCON2022 #WAFCON #FIFAWWC #Morocco2022 #moroccovsbotswana pic.twitter.com/dVI6g84fYL

— hind karoicha (@hindkaroicha) July 13, 2022

Fans also labelled the achievement "befitting... for a nation that has invested immensely in women’s football in recent years".

MASSIVE! 🎉

Morocco 🇲🇦 qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time ever after edging Botswana 🇧🇼 2-1 in the #WAFCON quarterfinals.

A befitting achievement for a nation that has invested immensely in women’s football in recent years. Félicitations Atlas Lionesses. pic.twitter.com/6j6Xp5CHJe

— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) July 13, 2022

Zambia also qualified for the cup for the first time on Wednesday, and Tunisia will play against South Africa in the WAFCON quarter-finals on Thursday.

The African Cup of Nations for Women kicked off on 3 July.

The tournament this year carries a 150 percent increase in prize money for the victors, according to Confederation for African Football (CAF) president Dr Patrice Motsepe.