The stage is set for a blockbuster finale in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as host nation Morocco prepares to battle record champions Nigeria in Rabat this weekend. The Atlas Lionesses secured their spot in the final after edging out a determined Ghanaian side 4-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The semi-final clash, held at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, was a pulsating encounter that showcased the grit, determination, and quality of women’s football on the African continent. Both teams gave their all in a fiercely competitive match that saw momentum swing between the sides.
Ghana’s Black Queens started the encounter on the front foot and were the more dominant side in the opening half. Their attacking intent paid off in the 26th minute when teenage midfielder Stella Nyamekye found the back of the net. Nyamekye capitalised on sustained pressure and managed to scramble the ball past Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi, sending the traveling Ghanaian supporters into jubilation.
Despite trailing at the break, the hosts returned to the pitch with renewed purpose and intensity. Their persistence was rewarded in the 55th minute when winger Sakina Ouzraoui Diki struck a brilliant equaliser. The Moroccan number 7 cut in from the right and fired an unstoppable shot into the net, igniting the home crowd and shifting the momentum in Morocco’s favour.
As both sides battled to find a winner, chances came and went. Morocco pressed higher up the field, while Ghana looked to catch them on the counterattack. However, neither team was able to find the decisive goal in regular time or during the added 30 minutes of extra time, pushing the match into a tense penalty shootout.
The shootout began with composure from both sides, but the pressure quickly mounted on the Black Queens. Ghana’s third penalty taker, Evelyn Badu, fired her attempt wide of the post, leaving the scoreline in Morocco’s favour. Then came the critical moment: 18-year-old Comfort Yeboah stepped up for Ghana, knowing a miss could end her side’s tournament hopes. Her low effort was expertly saved by Er-Rmichi, sparking wild celebrations from the Moroccan bench and fans.
Morocco maintained a perfect record from the spot, converting all four of their penalties with confidence and calmness. With the 4-2 shootout victory, the Atlas Lionesses booked a place in their second consecutive WAFCON final on home soil, where they will once again attempt to lift the continental title for the first time in history.
Speaking after the heartbreaking loss, Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren praised his team’s effort and spirit. The Swedish tactician expressed pride in the players despite the painful outcome.
“We deserved to win. If you look at the statistics—expected goals and overall dominance in the first half—we were a little unlucky today,” Björkegren said in his post-match interview. “But I can’t be more proud of the girls. They worked so hard and showed the heart of warriors out there.”
Ghana’s exit marks yet another near-miss for the West African side, who were seeking to reach the WAFCON final for the first time since 1998. Nevertheless, the Black Queens have won praise across the continent for their rejuvenated playing style, driven by youth talents like Nyamekye and Yeboah, alongside experienced stars such as Evelyn Badu and Grace Asantewaa.
For Morocco, the victory represents a continuation of their meteoric rise in women’s football. Following their runner-up finish on home soil in 2022, the Atlas Lionesses are now just one game away from making history. Coach Reynald Pedros, a former UEFA Women’s Champions League-winning coach with Lyon, has brought tactical discipline and belief to the Moroccan side.
They now face their biggest challenge yet in the final—Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the undisputed queens of African football. Nigeria booked their place in the championship match with a hard-fought 2-1 win over defending champions South Africa in the other semi-final.
Led by the commanding presence of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and the attacking brilliance of Rasheedat Ajibade and Mitchelle Alozie, Nigeria will be aiming to clinch a record-extending 10th WAFCON title. The Super Falcons are unbeaten in the tournament so far and have shown resilience in key moments, including their semi-final triumph in Abidjan.
The final between Nigeria and Morocco is set to take place at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat this weekend and promises to be a thrilling contest between two of Africa’s best.
For Morocco, the final represents a golden opportunity to break Nigeria’s decades-long dominance and win their maiden continental title in front of a passionate home crowd. For Nigeria, it is a chance to reassert their supremacy and capture another piece of history.
Whichever way it goes, the 2024 WAFCON final is poised to be an unforgettable climax to a tournament that has already delivered drama, passion, and world-class football.
