In an intense quarter-final match at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Ghana triumphed over Algeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw. The match, held in Berkane, Morocco, set the stage for Ghana to meet hosts Morocco in the semi-finals, promising an exciting showdown.
The standout hero for Ghana was goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan, who made two crucial saves against Marine Dafeur and Ines Belloumou during the shootout. Evelyn Badu expertly converted the winning penalty, eliciting jubilant celebrations from the Black Queens and their supporters.
Throughout regular play, Ghana was the more assertive side, although both teams experienced a largely scrappy match. A potential breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Stella Nyamekye’s powerful strike found the net, but after a VAR review, it was disallowed for a marginal offside in the build-up. As the match progressed, Ghana’s chances remained limited, with Badu missing a significant opportunity late in the game. Algeria, on the other hand, struggled to offer a cutting edge in attack but maintained a solid defensive stance.
Extra time delivered few moments of note, aside from a long-range effort by Algeria’s Ghoutia Karchouni that sailed over the bar. Ghana’s striker Doris Boaduwaa came close to scoring twice late in extra time but was denied by goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi and a crucial clearance from centre-back Roselene Khezami. Despite Algeria’s exit from the tournament without conceding in regular or extra time, Ghana’s resilience paid off in the decisive penalty phase.
Algeria’s performance in Morocco marked their first progression to the knockout stage, impressing with a sturdy defense led by N’Gazi. Nonetheless, their struggle to convert opportunities upfront was evident, exemplified by only one goal across four matches. Meanwhile, Ghana’s victory propels them to Rabat where they will face Moroccan hosts, who defeated Mali 3-1 in their quarter-final encounter. Ghana aims to leverage this momentum to clinch their first WAFCON title after previously finishing as runners-up three times.
For more details and live updates, visit the official Confederation of African Football website CAF WAFCON 2024.
