By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco on Tuesday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat limped into their second ever appearance in the Women’s African Football Cup of Nations (WAFCON) grand finale defeating the Black Queens of Ghana 4-2 on penalties after playing 1-1 at full time.

Ghana had dominated the first half getting a goal when Bosu headed a ball towards Moroccan net but Stella Nyamekye pounced on a rebound and headed it into goal at the 26th minute for the match opener.

Both sides did all they could in the 2nd half to excel and win the day until Comfort Yeboah failed to clear her lines giving a default header to Sakina Ouzraoui to score the equalizer in the 55th minute.

The extra 15 minutes given in two halves could not produce a winner which brought penalty shootouts.

Morocco looked well prepared scoring four of the usual first round kicks. El-Haji scored first after Morocco won the toss. Jraidi scored the second; Chapelle neatly tucked in the 3rd one and Lahmari with unusual calmness sent Ghana down to the Losers Match.

Ghana scored the first and second kicks through Kyerewa and Kusi but two players regarded as good shooters, Badu and Yeboah disappointed when it mattered most.

Ghana never won any WAFCON title but were Silver Medalists thrice in 1998, 2002 and 2006 dropping out at group stages four times in 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Morocco were at the world cup once in 2023 but dropped out at the R16 stages. They were at WAFCON four times dropping out at the group stages in 1998 and 2000 but finished with the Silver Medal at the 2022 tournament.

The 3rd place match between Black Queens of Ghana and dethroned defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa is on Friday 25th July at 8pm in Casablanca which had been the nest of the Super Falcons.

The Finals will hold at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat (which had hosted all the Moroccan matches) on Saturday 26th July at 9pm as the host nation, Morocco will test what it takes to face nine times champions in the grand finale.

Morocco will host the 16th edition of WAFCON in March 2026 which will be their 3rd consecutive advantage of hosting African women.