Wafcon 2024: Ghizlane Chebbak scores hat-trick as Morocco avoid DR Congo upset

However, with Chebbak in the team, the North Africans will feel they have a chance of going all the way and avenging their defeat by South Africa in the 2022 final.

Played in noticeably cooler conditions than previous games at the tournament, the crowd in Rabat had been beefed up from Saturday’s opening game by bussing people in to the stadium, something which caused traffic chaos ahead of kick-off.

There were gasps from those fans when substitute Mawete opened up her body to put the Leopardesses level at 2-2 with a beautiful curling finish midway through the second period.

But Chebbak once more knew exactly where to be when Imene El Ghazouani delivered a deliciously inviting cross that the skipper touched home at the far post on 76 minutes.

The hosts, who had nearly 70 per cent of the ball during the match, then created a host of chances to put the game to bed, eventually taking one when striker Anissa Lahmari had her foot stood on in the box and Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa pointed to the spot.

With designated penalty taker Jraidi off the pitch, Yasmin Mrabet stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way in the 83rd minute.

Sanaa Mssoudy and Lahmari both wasted good chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic, but this result will please Morocco, even if Vilda will see plenty of room for improvement ahead of their game against a Senegal side who have impressed so far.

For the Congolese, the result means they have lost their opening two fixtures at a Wafcon for the first time.

Off-field issues and results on the pitch mean their return to the finals for the first time since 2012 has not been a happy one.

They will need to beat Zambia by a wide margin to stand any chance of progressing as one of the best third-placed sides, something that looks highly unlikely.