IFFHS CONTINENTAL STATS - WOMEN'S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
NIGERIA VS MOROCCO FOR 15TH WAFCON FINAL.
The two matches which qualified the Super Falcons of Nigeria and Atlas Lionesses of Morocco lived to their billings. In Casablanca, 9-time winners, Nigeria edged defending champions, South Africa 2-1. While it took a penalty shootout in Rabat for Morocco to overpower Ghana 4-2 after both teams had played to a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.
In their fifth semifinal clash at the Larbi Zaouli stadium, Nigeria stepped out of the locker room still fully conscious of their 1-2 defeat at the hands of Morocco in a group C game two years ago. That explained their spirited showing raising the curtains in the 45th minute courtesy of a Rasheed Ajibade penalty after Bambanani Mbane had touched the ball in the area. 15 minutes into resumption, Osinachi Ohale brought down Hilda Magaia in the box for Linda Motlhalo to transform. And then, four minutes into stoppage time, Michelle Alozie's long distance projectile sailed into the net unperturbed. That landed Nigeria the final ticket at the end of a game that had seen South African Gabriela Salgado ferried out on a stretcher straight for the hospital following what is described as a delicate leg injury.
Over to the Olympic Stadium of Rabat, the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco with an average group age of 29 as opposed to 24 for the Black Queens of Ghana found business quite difficult with their relatively juvenile opponents. In the 26th minute, Stella Nyamekye punted the ball over the line after keeper Khadija Er-Rmichi had parried a Josephine Afua header following a Comfort Yeboah long distance drive. 10 minutes into the second half, Ouzraoui Sakina equalized for Morocco after cunningly dazzling four queens. In the shootout after 120 minutes of play, Morocco prevailed 4-2. Evelyn Badu had shot wide while Comfort Yeboah's shot was stopped by the keeper.
The final Morocco vs Nigeria will be played on July 26, 24 hours after the 3rd spot match between South Africa and Ghana.