Morocco to play WAFCON final against Nigeria after penalty victory over Ghana

Morocco claimed their place in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final following a tense 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Ghana at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday evening. The Atlas Lionesses will now face Nigeria in Sunday’s championship match, seeking redemption after losing the 2022 final to South Africa on home soil. The semi-final clash remained deadlocked at 1-1 after extra time, with both teams demonstrating exceptional defensive organisation throughout the 120 minutes of play.

Ghana took the initiative early and grabbed the opener in the 26th minute through Stella Nyamekye, who pounced on a rebound after goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi had brilliantly tipped Afua Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa’s powerful header onto the post. The Black Queens controlled the first half proceedings, testing Errmichi twice in the opening quarter-hour and creating the clearer scoring opportunities. Morocco head coach made a tactical adjustment before the break, introducing Najat Badri for Elodie Nakkach to inject fresh energy into the midfield battle.

The tournament hosts emerged with renewed purpose after the interval and found their equaliser 10 minutes into the second half. Sakina Ouzraoui demonstrated quick thinking and clinical finishing to beat Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan to a high ball in the penalty area, stabbing home from close range in the 55th minute. Morocco began to assert greater control of proceedings, with Badri forcing a sharp save from Konlan just minutes earlier with a well-struck left-footed effort.

Neither side could find a decisive breakthrough during the remaining 65 minutes of regulation and extra time, despite Morocco creating more sustained attacking pressure. Ghana remained organised defensively whilst offering sporadic counter-attacking threats that kept the home crowd anxious. The match proceeded to penalties, where Morocco converted all four of their attempts whilst Ghana’s Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah both missed their spot-kicks to hand the Atlas Lionesses passage to their second consecutive WAFCON final.

The victory sets up a mouth-watering final between two of African football’s powerhouses, with Morocco seeking to claim their first continental crown since 1991. Nigeria advanced to the final after defeating defending champions South Africa 1-0 in Monday’s first semifinal at the same venue. The championship match will take place at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday evening, with Morocco hoping home advantage proves decisive in their quest to end a 34-year wait for WAFCON glory.