Hosts Morocco into Wafcon final after shootout win over Ghana

After beating Ghana 4-2 on penalties in a shootout at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, hosts Morocco will face Nigeria in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.

After 90 minutes, neither side was able to break the deadlock in extra time, which ended 1-1.

Egypt’s third penalty was saved by the diving Khadija Er-Rmichi, and Evelyn Badu struck it wide with a perfect score from the spot. With Morocco still holding a perfect record, 18-year-old Comfort Yeboah was under too much pressure.

The Black Queens, who were the better side in the opening period and had the lead through Stella Nyamekye in the 26th minute, had very different beginnings.

After the break, Morocco found their equalizer through Sakina Ouzraoui’s winger, who was only 10 minutes away.

Morocco knew there was every chance a different West African opponent could make them angry on their own patch after defeating Nigeria in the semi-finals three years ago.

And that’s how it ended up against a Ghanaian side, who has improved over the course of the tournament.

Former England youth international Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, one of the Black Queens’ standout players in Morocco, had the first real chance after some physical opening exchanges that was marred by nervousness on both sides.

After three minutes, Ghana wasted another chance when Nyamekye chose to shoot from distance, which resulted in a comfortable save.

After a long ball found its way to full-back Josephine Bonsu, who was forced to make a fine reflex save from Er-Rmichi, who had only the opportunity to tuck the rebound home.

Nyamekye remained a livewire presence the rest of the half, causing issues for the defense of the North Africans and frequently assisting in possession turnovers.

After selecting an unchanged starting lineup for the first four games of the tournament, Morocco’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda, who had made two changes, made a first-half tactical change after the goal, and immediately made a change.

Najat Badri replaced central midfielder Elodie Nakkach, reversing one of those pre-game adjustments.

After a tussle with defender Susan Duah in injury time, the hosts only really threatened their opponents once in the first half when captain Ghizlane Chebbak fell to the ground. The officials erred when they rebuffed the penalty claims.

However, Morocco dominated the second half, and the roles completely changed.

Before Ouzraoui scored, Badri had already forced a quick save from Cynthia Konlan, who had already collected a long ball that passed past the Ghana keeper.

Nyamekye, 19, was almost immediately given a second by Er-Rmichi when she was too quick and didn’t compose herself.

Extra time appeared inevitable as the passage of time passed, despite Morocco continuing to control the proceedings.

The two players who would soon experience penalty heartbreak combined for their best chance to win it in the first half of extra time.

Yeboah’s speculative shot from range was impulsively parried back by Er- Rmichi, with Badu lurking and nearly escaping.

After that, neither team’s energy level increased significantly, leaving neither team with much to offer.

And there are penalties as well.

Morocco exceled in every way possible in their semi-final shootout against Nigeria at Wafcon 2022.

The Ghanaian side, who defeated Algeria on spot kicks in their quarter-final, was under pressure again thanks to Hanane Ait El Haj, Ibtissam Jraidi, Kenza Chapelle, and Anissa Lahmari’s all-consensus conversions.

Although Bonsu and Alice Kuti scored in the opening two rounds, Badu and Yeboah were unable to find the target.

The three-time champions now have six knockout games played against host nations in Wafcon.

Morocco has never won a continental title, just like Ghana.