Ghana’s Black Queens will face Morocco for the first time in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with none of their previous 13 tournament appearances featuring a match against the Atlas Lionesses.
The highly anticipated semifinal, set for Tuesday at the Stade Olympique in Rabat, comes at a pivotal moment for both sides, each chasing a maiden continental title since making their WAFCON debuts.
Road to the Semis
Morocco booked their place in the last four with a commanding 3-1 victory over Mali in the quarterfinals. Prior to that, Jorge Vilda’s side recorded two group-stage wins—against DR Congo and Senegal—and a draw against Zambia in their tournament opener.
Ghana, meanwhile, endured a shaky start. A narrow defeat to defending champions South Africa was followed by a draw with Mali, before the Black Queens bounced back with a dominant win over Tanzania to secure second place in Group C.
In the quarterfinals, Ghana edged Algeria in a tense contest that ended goalless after extra time. Goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan emerged as the hero, saving two penalties to help the team triumph 4-2 in the shootout.
What They Said
Representatives from both teams spoke at a pre-match press conference held at the Olympic Stadium.
Despite Morocco scoring eight goals in the tournament so far, head coach Jorge Vilda urged his side to be even more clinical.
“We will try to be more efficient against a very strong Ghanaian team, to score more goals and create more opportunities,” he said.
Forward Ibtissam Jraidi echoed her coach’s sentiment, adding:
“We create chances, but we need to score first and score more. We are ready to fight for our flag and our people.”
Ghana coach Kim Björkegren acknowledged the challenge of facing the hosts, but also saw potential in the pressure of the occasion.
“Of course, it’s going to be tough in front of a huge crowd. But I also know from experience that home support can work both ways,” he said.
“When you silence the crowd with a goal, that energy flips—and it can give your team a massive lift.”
Head-to-Head History
Though Tuesday marks their first WAFCON meeting, Ghana and Morocco have faced off in four international friendlies. The record is even, with two wins apiece.
- 2020: Ghana won both home fixtures
- 2022 & 2025: Morocco responded with two victories on home soil (2-0 and 1-0 respectively)
This semifinal not only offers a chance to tip the head-to-head balance but also serves as a defining moment in both nations’ quests for a first-ever WAFCON crown.
Match Details
What’s at Stake: A place in the final against the winner of Nigeria vs South Africa.
Fixture: Ghana vs Morocco – WAFCON 2024 Semifinal
Date: Tuesday, July 22
Venue: Stade Olympique, Rabat
Kickoff: 19:00 GMT
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