Ghana and South Africa have booked their places in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, bringing an end to the campaigns of Algeria and Senegal following two tightly contested quarter-final encounters.
Algeria, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, struggled to find rhythm against a determined Ghanaian side in Rabat.
The Black Queens dominated in key areas of the pitch, proving more clinical and organised in both attack and defence.
The absence of creative midfielder Naïma Bouhani due to injury left Algeria lacking in invention, despite their 58% possession.
Ghana, although wasteful at times, carved out the better chances in open play and came closest to breaking the deadlock during regulation time.
Algeria, led by goalkeeper Zeïneb Adjroudi and a disciplined back line, held firm to force penalties.
However, the shootout proved decisive, and it was Ghana who held their nerve to progress to the final four, where they will face hosts Morocco.
Meanwhile in Oujda, reigning champions South Africa were pushed to the limit by a resilient Senegalese side.
In a tense match that ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, it was the experience and composure of Banyana Banyana that proved crucial in the penalty shootout.
South Africa converted four spot-kicks to Senegal’s one, sealing a 4-1 victory and setting up a blockbuster semi-final clash against rivals Nigeria.
The two remaining quarter-finals, played earlier on Friday, saw Nigeria dismantle Zambia with a commanding 5-0 win in Casablanca, underlining their title credentials.
Hosts Morocco delighted their home crowd at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat with a spirited 3-1 victory over Mali, inspired by standout performances from Ibtissam Jraïdi and Sakina Ouzraoui.
Attention now shifts to Tuesday’s semi-finals on 22 July, with two mouth-watering fixtures in store.
Nigeria face South Africa in a clash of African powerhouses, while Morocco aim to continue their dream run against an invigorated Ghanaian side.
For Algeria and Senegal, the tournament ends with disappointment, but also with valuable lessons.
Their journeys in Morocco may be over, but both teams will take confidence from their growth and will look to build on this experience in future competitions.
