Host nation Morocco booked their place in a second consecutive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final after defeating Ghana 4-2 on penalties in a tense semi-final on Tuesday night.
The match at Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of fiercely contested football, forcing a shootout to decide the winner. Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi was the hero, making a crucial save to send the Atlas Lionesses into Saturday’s final against Nigeria.
It was Ghana who struck first, taking a deserved lead in the 26th minute. Following a corner, midfielder Stella Nyamekye pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired home to give the Black Queens the advantage.
Buoyed by a passionate home crowd, Morocco responded with increased intensity after the break. Their pressure paid off in the 55th minute when Sakina Ouzraoui Diki bundled the ball into the net from close range after a deflected shot from Ibtissam Jraïdi.
Both sides had chances to win the match in normal time and a tense period of extra time, with Ghana’s Evelyn Badu missing a clear headed opportunity in the 100th minute.
With the deadlock unbroken, the tie went to penalties. Morocco held their nerve, converting all four of their spot-kicks through Hanane Aït El Haj, Ibtissam Jraïdi, Kenza Chapelle, and Anissa Lahmari. Ghana’s efforts were undone when Evelyn Badu sent her penalty wide and Comfort Yeboah’s attempt was saved by Er-Rmichi, sealing Morocco’s passage to the final.
The victory keeps Morocco’s dream of winning their first-ever WAFCON title alive on home soil. Ghana will now face defending champions South Africa in the third-place playoff on Friday.
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