Morocco and Ghana will meet for only the second time in TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) history when they clash in the semi-final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday (kick-off 20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT).
Match facts
Their previous meeting came in the group stage in 2000, when Ghana claimed a 3-0 win thanks to three goals in five minutes, Elizabeth Baidu (65′), Grace Bayor (66′), and Nana Gyamfuah (70′), a result that sent Ghana to the knockout rounds and eliminated Morocco.
Ghana have a challenging history against host nations at WAFCON. They’ve played hosts six times, winning just once, a 3-0 group stage victory over South Africa in 2004.
The other five matches ended in defeat, including three finals against Nigeria (1998, 2002, 2006) and two semi-finals (vs South Africa in 2000, vs Cameroon in 2016).
Ghana have failed to score in all five of those knockout defeats, conceding a total of seven goals.
Past WAFCON Meeting: 18 November 2000 – Group B: Ghana 3–0 Morocco (Baidu 65′, Bayor 66′, Gyamfuah 70′) Venue: Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa, South Africa.
MOROCCO FACTS
Defeated Mali 3-1 in the quarterfinals to reach their second WAFCON semi-final.
Victory would take Morocco to a second final, having been runners-up in 2022.
The 3-1 win over Mali was Morocco’s biggest ever WAFCON knockout win.
Have now scored in 10 consecutive WAFCON matches, their longest scoring streak in the tournament.
Morocco’s direct knockout record at WAFCON is: P3 W3 (including one penalty shoot-out win).
Their only WAFCON loss beyond the group stage was the 2022 final against South Africa.
A win will make Morocco the 10th host nation to reach a WAFCON final.
Morocco would become only the second host to reach multiple finals (after Nigeria, who did so in 1998, 2002, and 2006).
Have never kept a clean sheet in a WAFCON knockout game but have scored in all four.
Only WAFCON match decided by penalties was their 2022 semi-final vs Nigeria, which they won 5-4. Sanaa Mssoudy scored the equaliser in that match and was involved in a game-high 20 duels vs Mali, winning 12.
Ibtissam Jraidi has scored two penalties in the current tournament, including a brace vs Zambia.
Morocco have converted all four penalties they’ve been awarded in the tournament.
Across the last two editions, Morocco have scored seven goals from penalties.
Completed 315 passes against Mali, with Zineb Redouani leading with 42.
Hanane Ait El Haj had the most touches in the Mali match with 81.
Morocco have used the same starting XI in all four matches so far.
17 players have featured for Morocco, with 13 appearing in every match.
Elodie Nakkach and Imane Saoud have appeared in all four games as substitutes.
GHANA FACTS
Reached their seventh WAFCON semi-final, with three wins and three losses in previous appearances.
A win would secure a fourth final appearance (previously reached in 1998, 2002, and 2006).
All previous finals were in Nigeria; this would be the first time reaching a final outside of West Africa.
Ghana’s three semi-final wins came in West Africa; their three losses occurred outside West Africa (twice in South Africa, once in Cameroon).
All six previous semi-finals were decided in open play.
Previous semi-final wins: 4-1 vs DR Congo (1998), 3-2 AET vs Cameroon (2002), 1-0 vs South Africa (2006).
Previous semi-final losses: 1-0 to South Africa (2000), 1-0 to Cameroon (2004 and 2016).
Ghana’s WAFCON knockout record (excluding shoot-outs): W7 L6.
Have won both of their penalty shootouts in the competition’s history, vs Ethiopia (2004, third-place) and vs Algeria (2024 quarterfinal).
The 0-0 draw with Algeria was their first clean sheet at the current tournament and first in six WAFCON games.
Managed only two shots on target against Algeria, their fewest in four matches.
Completed 216 passes in the quarterfinal win, only exceeded by 217 against South Africa in their opening 2-0 loss.
Jenifer Cudjoe was involved in 27 duels vs Algeria, winning 16 and also registering 11 tackles.
Susan Duah made seven clearances in the same match, the most of any player.
Match officials
REFEREE: Suavis IRATUNGA
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Carine Atezambong FOMO
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Fides BANGURAMBONA
4TH OFFICIAL: Aline GUIMBANG A ETONG
RESERVE ASSISTANT REFEREE: Nancy KASITU
VAR: Letticia Antonella VIANA
ASSISTANT VAR 1: Abdalaziz Yasir AHMED ABDALAZIZ
ASSISTANT VAR 2: Diana CHIKOTESHA
SOURCE: CAF
