WAFCON 2024: Morocco overwhelms Ghana, advances to battle Nigeria in Rabat
By Uzor Odigbo
Moroccan Women’s national team, the Atlass Lionesses booked their place in the Women’s African Football Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final for the second time on Tuesday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, overcoming the Black Queens of Ghana 4-2 in penalties following a 1-1 stalemate at full time.
Ghana took control of the first half, scoring at the 26th minute when Stella Nyamekye headed the ball into the goal after a rebound. Both teams gave their all in the second half, with Morocco eventually equalizing in the 55th minute through Sakina Ouzraoui’s header.
The match went into extra time and subsequently, penalty shootouts, where Morocco demonstrated their preparedness by converting four of the usual first-round kicks.
Morocco will now test their mettle against the nine-time champions Super Falcons of Nigeria in the grand finale on Saturday, July 26th, at 9 pm.
Ghana never won any WAFCON title but were Silver Medalists thrice in 1998, 2002 and 2006 dropping out at group stages four times in 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Morocco were at the world cup once in 2023 but dropped out at the R16 stages. They were at WAFCON four times dropping out at the group stages in 1998 and 2000 but finished with the Silver Medal at the 2022 tournament.
The 3rd place match between Black Queens of Ghana and dethroned defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa is on Friday 25th July at 8 pm in Casablanca which had been the nest of the Super Falcons.
