Latest news with #KhadijaErRmichi
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Sub sinks Morocco as Nigeria are crowned African football queens
The triumph in Rabat confirmed the west Africans as the queens of women's football in Africa as they pulled off a record-extending 10th title in 13 editions. It was the second successive final loss for Morocco, who led by two goals after 24 minutes only to concede three in the second half. Esther Okoronkwo played a key role in the Super Falcons victory -- scoring the first goal, creating the second and delivering the free-kick that Echegini finished to stun the home crowd. Morocco, backed by a vibrant capacity crowd at the 21,000-seat Stade Olympique in the capital, took the lead on 12 minutes as Nigeria conceded for the first time in open play at the tournament. Nigeria fluffed several chances to clear the ball and it fell just outside the area to Chebbak, whose perfectly placed, rising shot gave goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie no chance. The lead doubled 12 minutes later as the ball flew across the Nigerian goalmouth to Sanaa Mssoudy, who ended a five-match goal drought by steering a low shot into the far corner of the net. Nigeria had more possession in the opening half than the host nation, but managed only one shot on target and it did not trouble goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi. Lifted spirits But the Moroccan lead halved after 64 minutes as Okoronkwo sent Er-Rmichi the wrong way from a penalty after a VAR review showed a Folashade Ijamilusi cross striking a hand of Nouhaila Benzina. The goal lifted the spirits of increasingly assertive Nigeria and they equalised seven minutes later when Okoronkwo turned creator with a pull-back that Ijamilusi pushed into the net from close range. On Friday, Ghana finished third, winning a penalty shootout 4-3 against outgoing champions South Africa after a 1-1 play-off draw in regular time in Casablanca. After two weakly struck spot kicks in a row by South Africa were saved to give Ghana the advantage, 19-year-old Nancy Amoh converted the decisive penalty with a low shot into the corner of the net. A blunder by Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan gifted South Africa the lead on 45 minutes as she lost control of the ball just outside the box and Nonhlanhla Mthandi struck it into the net. Persistent Ghanaian pressure finally paid off on 68 minutes when an Alice Kusi header came off the crossbar and long-serving South Africa shot-stopper Andile Dlamini conceded an own goal. Victory was particularly sweet for the Black Queens as they were outplayed when losing 2-0 to Banyana Banyana (The Girls) in the group stage. Ghana have won the four third place play-offs they qualified for while South Africa have lost four of five bronze medals matches. The next Wafcon is scheduled for March 2026, also in Morocco, and will double as a qualifying competition for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Host Morocco reaches final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations after penalty shootout with Ghana
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi blocked Comfort Yeboah's attempt and host Morocco advanced to the championship of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Ghana on Tuesday. Morocco, which prevailed 4-2 on penalties, will face Nigeria in the final Saturday. The Super Falcons defeated defending champions South Africa 2-1 in the earlier semifinal Tuesday in Casablanca. Ghana took a first-half lead. Er-Rmichi got a hand on Josephine Bonsu's header but it bounced off the post and skittered across the goal for Stella Nyamekye to push it into the net in the 26th minute. Morocco equalized in the 55th when Sakina Ouzraoui bounced a pass from her chest to her feet and scored from underneath diving Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan. Scoreless for the rest of regulation, the match went to extra time at Rabat's Olympic Stadium. Morocco has seen its national team rise in recent years. The team reached the WAFCON final in 2022 but fell to South Africa. Morocco also went to the Women's World Cup for the first time in 2023 and advanced to the round of 16. Morocco advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Mali, while Ghana downed Algeria 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw. ___ AP soccer:
Al Jazeera
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Morocco beat Ghana on penalties to set up Nigeria WAFCON final
Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi blocked Comfort Yeboah's attempt, and the hosts, Morocco, advanced to the championship of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Ghana. Morocco, which prevailed 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday, will face Nigeria in the final on Saturday. The Super Falcons defeated defending champions South Africa 2-1 in the earlier semifinal on Tuesday in Casablanca. Ghana took a first-half lead. Er-Rmichi got a hand on Josephine Bonsu's header, but it bounced off the post and skittered across the goal for Stella Nyamekye to push it into the net in the 26th minute. Morocco equalised in the 55th when Sakina Ouzraoui bounced a pass from her chest to her feet and scored from underneath diving Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan. Scoreless for the rest of regulation, the match went to extra time at Rabat's Olympic Stadium. Morocco has seen its national team rise in recent years. The team reached the WAFCON final in 2022 but fell to South Africa. Morocco also went to the Women's World Cup for the first time in 2023 and advanced to the round of 16. Morocco advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Mali, while Ghana downed Algeria 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Host Morocco reaches final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations after penalty shootout with Ghana
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi blocked Comfort Yeboah's attempt and host Morocco advanced to the championship of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Ghana on Tuesday. Morocco, which prevailed 4-2 on penalties, will face Nigeria in the final Saturday. The Super Falcons defeated defending champions South Africa 2-1 in the earlier semifinal Tuesday in Casablanca. Advertisement Ghana took a first-half lead. Er-Rmichi got a hand on Josephine Bonsu's header but it bounced off the post and skittered across the goal for Stella Nyamekye to push it into the net in the 26th minute. Morocco equalized in the 55th when Sakina Ouzraoui bounced a pass from her chest to her feet and scored from underneath diving Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan. Scoreless for the rest of regulation, the match went to extra time at Rabat's Olympic Stadium. Morocco has seen its national team rise in recent years. The team reached the WAFCON final in 2022 but fell to South Africa. Morocco also went to the Women's World Cup for the first time in 2023 and advanced to the round of 16. Morocco advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Mali, while Ghana downed Algeria 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw. ___ AP soccer:
BBC News
22-07-2025
- 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.
