Ghana’s Black Queens booked their place in the WAFCON semifinals for the first time since 2016, following a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Algeria on Saturday.
The result came as a surprise to many, not just for the hard-fought nature of the match, but because of Ghana’s historically poor record in shootouts. Since the 1992 AFCON, Ghanaian national teams have managed just 18 wins from 39 penalty shootouts in major competitions — a success rate of only 46%.
During regular time, the Black Queens pushed for a breakthrough, with Doris Boaduwaa, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, and Evelyn Badu all coming close. But Algeria’s defense, led by an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Chloé N’Gazi, held firm, forcing the game into a tense penalty decider.
While nerves set in for many Ghanaian fans, head coach Kim Björkegren appeared calm—because he had a plan.
Ghana stepped up with composure, converting all four of their spot-kicks with clinical precision. At the other end, goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan rose to the occasion, making two crucial saves to secure the win and send Ghana through.
In the video below, Daniel Koranteng takes a deep dive into the data behind the Black Queens’ penalty shootout success—revealing how strategy, preparation, and psychology came together for one of Ghana’s most composed finishes in recent memory.
‘This man had a plan. He is a genius.’@Dani77k breaks down how Kim Lars Björkegren used science and data to mastermind the Black Queens’ penalty shootout win over Algeria at WAFCON
Full show: https://t.co/aaSKof9Dem#SportsZone | #JoySports pic.twitter.com/CDHVK3q0Iz
— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) July 22, 2025
Ghana’s semifinal test, however, comes against a formidable Moroccan side, who were runners-up in the previous edition and buoyed by home support. The game will take place in Rabat on Tuesday, with kick off time confirmed for 19:00GMT.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
