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Morocco set up WAFCON final showdown with Nigeria

football22 July 2025 21:30| © Backpage TXT
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Morocco have set up a title showdown against Nigeria in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after they defeated Ghana 4-2 on penalties in the second semifinal, played at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday night.

The Atlas Lionesses and Black Queens played out a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, with Stella Nyamekye and Sakina Ouzraoui netting for the West and North African teams respectively.

The tournament hosts were then able to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout, giving them a chance to exorcise the demons of their 2022 WAFCON final loss on home soil at the hands of South Africa.

Ghana started the stronger of the two teams, stringing together some promising attacks that saw them twice test out Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi in the opening quarter hour with long-range shots.

The Black Queens then duly claimed the lead in the 26th minute: Afua Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa powered a great header on target, only for Errmichi to make a finger-tip save to direct the ball onto the post – it then ran along the goal line before being turned home by Stella Nyamekye for 1-0.

The Atlas Lionesses responded by making a tactical substitution which saw Elodie Nakkach replaced by Najat Badri in midfield.

However, Ghana continued to look the better team up to half time, heading into the interval fully deserving of their one-goal lead – and perhaps frustrated that they had not added to it.

Morocco upped their game in the second half and nearly equalised in the 52nd minute, with Badri letting fly with a left-footed shot that forced a sharp save from Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan.

The hosts capitalised on their next chance, though, as Sakina Ouzraoui showed great anticipation and composure to attack a looping ball in the Ghanaian penalty area ahead of Konlan, and then stab home to make it 1-1 in the 55th minute.

The remainder of regulation time passed without any major goal-scoring opportunities at either end, though Morocco certainly created more attacking pressure up to the final whistle.

And the Atlas Lionesses continued that trend in extra time, though Ghana remained resilient in defence and offered a sporadic threat on the counter attack to keep the tournament hosts on their toes.

Ultimately the match closed with the teams locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, followed by a shootout in which Morocco converted four straight penalties, while Ghana scored their first two but Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah both failed to hit the back of the net, leaving the Atlas Lionesses to celebrate a dramatic triumph.

Morocco (0) (1) 1 (Ouzraoui 55’)

Ghana (1) (1) 1 (Nyamekye 26’)

After extra time, Morocco won 4-2 on penalties

Morocco: Errmichi, Ait El Haj, Benzina, Rabbah, Redouani, Mrabet (Kassi 105’), Chebbak (Lahmari 105’), Nakkach (Badri 36’), Mssoudy (Tagnaout 91’ [Chapelle 116’]), Ouzraoui (Saoud 91’) Diki, Jraidi

Ghana: Konlan, Duah, Boakye, Kyerewaa, Yeboah, Cudjoe, Asantewaa, Marfo (Kusi 58’), Nyamekye (Badu 89’), Boaduwaa (Adubea 71’), Boye-Hlorkah (Sumaila 103’)

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