Latest news with #AtlasLionesses
Ya Biladi
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan women's football team reaches AFCON 2024 final after thrilling win over Ghana
The Moroccan women's football team has secured their spot in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2024, marking their second consecutive appearance after 2022. They clinched their place by overcoming Ghana in a tense penalty shootout (4-2 on penalties, 1-1 after extra time) on Tuesday night at Rabat's Olympic Stadium. Despite trailing in the first half, the Moroccan team demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, equalizing an hour into the match and ultimately earning their ticket to the final. There, they will face Nigeria, the nine-time African champions. Morocco has remained unbeaten in this AFCON, with a draw against Zambia (2-2), an impressive offensive display against DR Congo (4-2), a narrow victory over Senegal (1-0), and a controlled win against Mali in the quarterfinals (3-1). Although they encountered challenges against Ghana, they have now set the stage for a highly anticipated final against Nigeria, whom they eliminated in the semifinals of the previous edition. From the outset, the Moroccan team created several scoring opportunities, notably through Hanane Msoudi in the 5th minute and a shot from Hanane Aït Lhaj, which was deflected by the Ghanaian goalkeeper. The Black Queens were not passive, however, and attempted to challenge Khadija Rmichi. A shot from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah forced Rmichi to make a save in the 10th minute, followed by a dangerous attempt from Stella Nyamekye in the 14th minute. As the Moroccans sought to assert their dominance, Nyamekye managed to open the scoring for Ghana in the 26th minute. After the break, national coach Jorge Vilda made several changes to invigorate the midfield, notably bringing on Najat Badri, who nearly scored in the 51st minute. The numerous opportunities for the Moroccans finally paid off in the 55th minute with an equalizer from Sakina Azraoui. During extra time, the changes made by Jorge Vilda, including the introduction of Fatima Tagnaout and Imane Saoud, were not enough to alter the course of the match, despite clear Moroccan dominance. The penalty shootout provided another chance for the Atlas Lionesses to display their skill and composure, as the Moroccan players converted all their shots (4 out of 4), compared to 2 missed by the Ghanaians. The final between Morocco and Nigeria, who earlier in the day eliminated South Africa (2-1), is set for next Saturday (9:00 PM) at the Rabat Olympic Stadium. The third-place match between South Africa and Ghana will be played the day before.
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
How Nigeria and Morocco cruise to 2024 Wafcon final
Football fans don dey look forward to di final of di 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations wey go happun on Saturday for Rabat, Morocco. Nigeria wey be nine-time champions go face host nation Morrocco wey dey hope to win dia first continental title. Nigeria beat South Africa 2-1 on Tuesday while Morocco defeat Ghana 4-2 on penalties same night. Di West Africa football power house Nigeria and dia counterparts from North Africa don come a long way to reach di final of di 2024 Wafcon finals. Make we chook eye for dia journey to di stage wey oda kontri bin dey eye but no dey successful. Group stage Hosts Morocco bin dey Group A of di tournament wit Zambia, Senegal and DR Congo. Morocco and Zambia play 2-2 draw for di opening match. Dem beat DR Congo 4-2 and finish dia group match wit 1-0 win against Senegal. Morocco top Group A wit seven points, di same wit Zambia wey finish second for di group but Morocco pass dem wit goal difference. Morocco score seven goals while Zambia score six goals. For Nigeria, dem bin dey Group B wit Tunisia, Botswana and Algeria. Nigeria sama Tunisia 3-0 for dia opening match, beat Bostwana 1-0 and draw 0-0 wit Algeria. Dem finish top of Group B wit seven points and four goals. Algeria finish second for di group wit five points. South Africa top Group C wit seven point, Ghana finish second wit four points while Mali qualify as one of di Best Loser from Group C wit four points. Quarter-Finals Sake of say na 12 teams wey dem divide in to three groups participate for di tournament, Round of 16 no dey. Di competition move straight to di Quarter-finals wia any team wey lose dey go house straight. For dis round, Morocco wey top dia group face Mali wey be di Best Loser for Group C. Morocco sama Mali 3-1 to reach di semi-finals while Nigeria flog Zambia 5-0 to qualify. Algeria and Ghana play goalless draw , di same scoreline wit South Africa and Mali for open play. Dis two matches enta extra time and e later end for penalties. Ghana win Algeria 4-2 on penalties while South Africa beat Senegal 4-1. Semi-finals Tension bin don begin rise for dis stage as di last four face each oda. For di semi-finals Nigeria beat South Africa 2-1 while Morocco beat Ghana 4-2 on penalties afta Full-time end 1-1. Nigeria and Morocco Stats for dis year Wafcon so far Morocco Morocco dey lead di top scorers list, dia ogbonge player and Captain Ghizlaine Chebbak get four goals already. Dis na Morocco second Wafcon final and na dia first back to back final. Morocco score 11 goals for open play for dis tournament, dem score di highest goal against DR Congo [4-2]. Nigeria Nigeria concede dia first goal for dis tournament afta South Africa score dia penalty for di 60th minute. Nigeria neva concede any goal for 'open play' for dis tournament. Nigeria don score 11 goals for dis tournament and only one against South Africa be penalty. Nigeria don get nine different goal scorers for dis tournament. Chinwendu Ihezuo be top highest goalscorer for Nigeria she get three goals. Dis na Nigeria 10th final for Wafcon and dem dey try to win dia 10th title. Nigeria Caption Rashedat Ajibade don win three Woman of di Match award for di matches against Botswana, Zambia and South Africa.
CAF
21 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco edge Ghana in dramatic shootout to reach WAFCON final
Published: Tuesday, 22 July 2025 Hosts Morocco booked their place in a second successive Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final after edging Ghana 4-2 on penalties in a tense semi-final clash that ended 1-1 after extra time in Rabat on Tuesday night. The Atlas Lionesses held their nerve from the spot, with goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi making a crucial save and two Ghanaian players missing, to seal a place in Saturday's final against Nigeria. The defeat means Ghana must now battle South Africa in Friday's third-place playoff. In a fiercely contested match at Stade Moulay Abdellah, it was Ghana who struck first through Stella Nyamekye in the 26th minute. The midfielder pounced on a loose ball inside the box following a corner and fired past Er-Rmichi to give the Black Queens a deserved lead. The goal capped a bright start for Kim Björkegren's side, who looked more composed and energetic in the opening half, creating several dangerous chances through Doris Boaduwaa, Princess Marfo and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. Morocco, however, responded with increased urgency after the break. The home crowd roared them on and their efforts were rewarded in the 55th minute when Sakina Ouzraoui Diki bundled the ball into the net from close range after sustained pressure and a deflected effort from Ibtissam Jraïdi. The equaliser energised the Atlas Lionesses who began to dominate possession, but Ghana remained dangerous on the counter, with Princella Adubea and Alice Kusi coming close late in the game. Both sides had chances to win it in normal time, but neither could find a breakthrough. Extra time offered more drama as fatigue set in. Injuries forced multiple substitutions, with Morocco's Fatima Tagnaout and Ghana's Princella Adubea needing treatment. Ghana's Evelyn Badu missed a glorious chance in the 100th minute, heading wide from close range, while Alozie's speculative long-range effort in the final minutes went just over the bar. With the deadlock unresolved after 120 minutes, penalties were required to separate the two African powerhouses. Morocco's nerve held firm. Hanane Aït El Haj, Ibtissam Jraïdi, Kenza Chapelle, and Anissa Lahmari converted their spot-kicks, while Ghana missed twice—Evelyn Badu firing wide and Comfort Yeboah seeing her effort saved by Er-Rmichi. The final whistle triggered wild celebrations among the Moroccan players and fans as Jorge Vilda's team reached the final for the second tournament running. It's a result that continues Morocco's dream of lifting their first-ever WAFCON title on home soil. Ghana, meanwhile, will be left to rue their missed opportunities, but they still have a chance to end the tournament with a medal when they take on South Africa for third place on Friday.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hosts Morocco into Wafcon final after shootout win over Ghana
Hosts Morocco will face Nigeria in the final of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after beating Ghana 4-2 in a penalty shootout at the Olympic Stadium in game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and neither side could break the deadlock in extra Badu struck Ghana's third penalty wide and, with Morocco maintaining a perfect record from the spot, the pressure was too much for 18-year-old Comfort Yeboah who saw her effort saved by the diving Khadija game had started very differently for the Black Queens, who were the better side in the first half and took the lead in the 26th minute through Stella came to life after the break and found their equaliser through winger Sakina Ouzraoui 10 minutes into the second result means the Atlas Lionesses will contest a second consecutive final on home soil, looking to lift the Wafcon trophy for the first time and deny Nigeria a record-extending 10th title.
Morocco World
a day ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
WAFCON 2024: Morocco Books Ticket to Final After Dominating Ghana 4-2 in Penalty
Rabat — Morocco's Lionesses dominated Ghana's Black Queens 4-2 in penalty kicks to qualify for the final of the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). In a dramatic first half at Rabat's Stade Olympique, Ghana stunned the host country with a breakthrough just before the interval. The Black Queens, enjoying only their second-ever WAFCON semi-final, showed early discipline and resilience against a Morocco side brimming with home advantage. Ghana's Stella Nyamekye scored the match's opener in the 26th minute from a swift counter‑attack that caught the Atlas Lionesses off balance. Despite boasting the tournament's best scoring record and a potent frontline led by Ghizlane Chebbak and Ibtissam Jraidi, the lionesses found Ghana's Black Queens forming a stubborn defense. The hosts remained in control of possession following a high-tempo start, but fatigue is creeping into their play. Following a tense 10 minutes to the second half, Morocco responded as Sakina Ouzraoui leveled the score in the 55th minute with a composed finish just inside the box. The second half unfolded as a tense tug of war between both sides, with neither able to break the deadlock. As the final whistle blew, the score remained unchanged, sending the match into extra time. Despite recurrent attempts to penetrate Ghana's strong defence, Atlas Lionesses never succeeded to reach the net during the second half of extra time. The extra time ended in an unbreakable 1-1 stalemate, leaving fans from both sides on edge as they watched penalty kicks, where fortune often plays as much of a role as skill. In the penalty kicks, Morocco's goal keeper Khadija Er-Rmichi saved the third shoutout securing her team a ticket to the final match. With this win, Morocco's Atlas Lionesses are set to lock horns with Nigeria to dispute the 2024 WAFCON title.
