History beckons for Ghana’s Black Queens as they prepare to lock horns with hosts Morocco for a place in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, a first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides on this stage.
Tuesday’s clash at the Stade Olympique in Rabat is not just a semifinal; it’s a statement opportunity for both teams, each chasing their maiden continental crown.
For Ghana, it’s a return to the last four for the first time in nine years. For Morocco, it’s a chance to reach back-to-back finals after their fairytale run in 2022 ended in heartbreak against South Africa.
Different paths, same dream
Morocco’s journey to this point has underlined their growing status as a powerhouse in African women’s football.
They opened their campaign with a draw against Zambia before clinching group-stage wins over DR Congo and Senegal.
In the quarterfinals, they brushed aside Mali 3-1 in a performance that showcased their attacking depth and home crowd advantage.
The Black Queens, in contrast, have had to scrap for every inch. After a narrow opening loss to defending champions South Africa, they drew with Mali before a commanding win over Tanzania secured second place in Group C.
In the quarterfinals, Ghana edged a gritty Algeria side in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan emerging the hero with two crucial saves.
A familiar foe for Björkegren
For Ghana head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, this fixture carries a personal twist; his debut in charge of the Black Queens came against Morocco in a friendly that ended in a tight defeat.
He and his staff have kept that experience in their back pocket, believing they’ve seen enough to exploit gaps in the Atlas Lionesses’ armour when the stakes are highest.
“I know the team pretty well. My first game for Ghana as head coach was against Morocco. It was a tight game. We had our chances to win the game. In the end, we lost. We also saw that we had the chances to win that type of game. Like all of the teams, they have some weaknesses as well, so we just need to push hard there,” Bjorkegren said.
Team news unchanged sides expected
Both sides are expected to stick with the lineups that got them through the quarterfinals. For Ghana, Cynthia Konlan is set to keep her place between the sticks after her penalty heroics.
At the back, the reliable trio of Bonsu Kyerewaa at left back, captain Portia Boakye at centre back, and Susan Ama Duah on the right will be tasked with shutting down Morocco’s wide threats.
The three have featured together in two of Ghana’s four games so far, including the clean sheet against Algeria.
In midfield, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah is tipped to partner Grace Asantewaa, whose commanding display against Algeria earned her the Woman of the Match award.
Up front, Alice Kusi, Ghana’s two-goal livewire who missed the quarterfinal, is expected to return to lead the line alongside Doris Boaduwaa as the Black Queens look to find the goals that deserted them last time out.
Morocco, under Jorge Vilda, will likely name an unchanged XI too. Veteran goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi remains a steady presence at 35, with Nouhaila Benzina and the experienced Aziza Rabbah forming the defensive backbone.
In midfield, Najat Badri and captain Ghizlane Chebbak provide both steel and guile, while the electric Fatima Tagnaout on the wing will aim to supply Sevilla forward Ibtissam Jraidi with chances in front of goal.
A rivalry waiting to ignite
Though this is their first-ever meeting at WAFCON, the two sides have clashed in four friendlies before, and the record is perfectly balanced.
Ghana claimed two home wins in 2020, before Morocco responded with two victories on home soil in 2022 and in 2025.
This semifinal now offers the perfect chance to tip the head-to-head scale, with the highest possible stakes attached.
A place in history
With defending champions South Africa battling Nigeria in the other semifinal, the path to the trophy is far from easy for whoever emerges from Rabat.
But for Ghana, who last reached a WAFCON final in 2006, and Morocco, still chasing their first-ever title, this is a moment loaded with possibility, and a shot at writing a new chapter in African women’s football.
Only one will keep the dream alive. For the Black Queens, it’s a chance to silence a packed Rabat and return to the continental summit. For Morocco, it’s a shot at history, and revenge for past missed opportunities.
FKA/MA
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