WAFCON
WAFCON 2024: Ghana, Algeria Set for High-Stakes Quarterfinal Clash in Berkane
By KUNLE SOLAJA.
An evenly poised quarterfinal showdown awaits in Berkane this Saturday as Ghana and Algeria clash for a place in the semifinals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) in what promises to be a gripping North vs West Africa duel.
The encounter marks the fourth WAFCON meeting between the two sides, with Ghana holding a slight historical edge—winning twice to Algeria’s single victory.
Notably, all three previous meetings produced a winner, with each decided by a single-goal margin.
Their first encounter came at the 2010 group stage, where Ghana came from behind to beat Algeria 2-1, thanks to a second-half brace by Agnes Aduako after Isma Ouadah’s early opener.
Algeria got their revenge in 2014, winning 1-0 with a late goal from Houria Affak. In their most recent WAFCON clash in 2018, Ghana triumphed 1-0 via a 13th-minute strike from Gladys Amfobea.
Despite those past meetings, none of the teams progressed beyond the group stage in those respective years.
This quarterfinal marks a new milestone—especially for Algeria, who are reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their six WAFCON appearances.
The Algerian team has broken new ground in Morocco. They finished the group stage unbeaten, not conceding a single goal across three matches—a defensive record matched only by Nigeria.
Their run of 276 minutes without conceding is the longest active streak in the tournament, with their last goal allowed dating back to a 3-2 loss to Mali in 2018.
However, their offensive output has been less impressive. Algeria scored just one goal in the group stage—the lowest among all quarterfinalists and their lowest tally in any WAFCON group stage with three games played.
Still, Algeria’s disciplined defending and tactical organisation have kept them in contention.
They notably held defending champions Nigeria to a goalless draw in their final group game, avoiding defeat to the Super Falcons for the first time. Standout performer Wassila Alouache won eight duels in that match—the highest by any Algerian player at the tournament so far.
For Ghana, this match is both a test of resilience and an opportunity to return to familiar heights. The Black Queens struggled early in the group stage, failing to win their first two matches, but roared back with a dominant 4-1 victory over Tanzania to seal their quarterfinal place.
This is Ghana’s first appearance in a WAFCON quarterfinal due to the new tournament format. In their previous six knockouts, they advanced directly to the semifinals. With a win, Ghana would reach their seventh semifinal—adding to an already storied WAFCON history.
Their record in knockout matches reads three wins and three losses, with all three victories secured in regulation time. Ghana’s only WAFCON penalty shootout appearance came in 2004 when they defeated Ethiopia 6-5 after a goalless third-place playoff.
However, one area of concern for Ghana will be their defensive record. They are the only quarterfinalists yet to keep a clean sheet at WAFCON 2024 and have conceded in each of their last five WAFCON games. Their last shutout came in their 2018 win—ironically—against Algeria.
Saturday’s match offers contrasting narratives: Algeria, a defensive revelation looking to make history as only the second North African team to reach a WAFCON semifinal; and Ghana, a traditional powerhouse hoping to rediscover its former glory.
With Morocco already in the semifinals, a victory for Algeria would also mark the first time two North African teams reach that stage in the same WAFCON edition. But Ghana will be keen to halt that momentum and keep their title hopes alive. The stage is set for a thrilling clash.
Past WAFCON Meetings of Ghana and Algeria:
2 November 2010 – Group B: Algeria 1 (Ouadah 4′) Ghana 2 (Aduako 62′, 73′) – Sinaba Stadium, South Africa
12 October 2014 – Group B: Algeria 1 (Affak 87’) Ghana 0 – Independence Stadium, Namibia
17 November 2018 – Group A: Ghana 1 (Amfobea 13′) Algeria 0 – Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana
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Zambian publication Bola News has reported a candid and emotional post-match reaction from Copper Queens head coach Nora Häuptle following her team’s 5-0 thrashing by Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Friday in Casablanca.
Speaking at the press conference after the match, Häuptle acknowledged Nigeria’s superiority and congratulated the Super Falcons on their emphatic victory.
“Very clear loss for us. Congratulations to Nigeria for the well-deserved victory. I think today we need to accept that Nigeria was better than us,” she said. “None of us has been on top—neither the players nor me as coach. It was a collective loss.”
Bola News highlighted that the Swiss-born tactician pointed to the significant gap in international exposure between both sides, noting Nigeria’s deep bench of foreign-based players as a key factor in their dominance.
“In the Nigerian squad, you see almost everyone plays abroad—either in France or America. They have much more players abroad. Nigeria is a country with about 200 million people, and Zambia has just 20 million. We don’t have so much talent,” she lamented.
She added that while Zambia currently has around nine or ten players abroad, the majority of her squad still play in the domestic league and are not yet physically or tactically on par with elite-level teams.
“We’ve seen that physically, we’re not on the same level. We need to go back and find ways for our players to go abroad earlier and develop.”
Häuptle’s earlier pre-match comments that Zambia were “coming to hunt” were referenced by Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade as a source of motivation. But despite the backlash and the heavy defeat, the coach stood by her words and remained focused on Zambia’s long-term vision.
“We said we were going to hunt. Nigeria are several-time winners, but we are on a growth path and development journey. We will also hunt in the next tournament. We are hungry and will continue to improve. We don’t care much what others say,” she insisted.
While the Super Falcons move on to face the winner of Saturday’s clash between South Africa and Senegal in the semifinals, Zambia will shift their attention to the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers, where they will face Namibia in a home-and-away tie this October. The qualifiers will also serve as a pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, hosts Morocco have also advanced to the semifinals after a 3-1 win over Mali. The Atlas Lionesses will now face the winner of the Ghana vs Algeria match as they aim for back-to-back WAFCON final appearances, having finished as runners-up in 2022.
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Nigeria’s Super Falcons delivered a statement performance on Friday night. They dismantled Zambia 5–0 in a one-sided Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final clash.
This victory secured their place in the semi-finals. It allowed them to continue their march toward a record-extending 10th continental crown.
Echoes of their 2014 demolition of the Copper Queens — a 6–0 rout — rang loud as Nigeria once again struck early. Just two minutes in, veteran centre-back Osinachi Ohale rose above the Zambian defence. She headed home a pinpoint free-kick from Esther Okoronkwo. The goal set the tone for a dominant display. It also rekindled memories of Ohale’s goal in that 2014 mauling.
The Super Falcons, unbeaten and yet to concede a goal in the tournament, doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Okoronkwo, provider of the opener, turned scorer this time, finishing off a flowing move with a composed strike into the bottom corner.
Zambia, tipped as dark horses after an impressive group stage showing, were shell-shocked and unable to muster a response. Their night worsened just before the break. Chinwendu Ihezuo pounced on a loose ball in the box. She slotted home Nigeria’s third.
Zambia boasted the attacking talents of captain Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda. However, their famed offensive flair fizzled. They struggled against a disciplined Nigerian defence marshalled by Ashleigh Plumptre.
Banda found herself repeatedly caught offside, while Chanda’s best effort — a speculative drive from distance — was easily dealt with early in the second half.
Nigeria’s dominance continued after the interval. In the 68th minute, Oluwatosin Demehin nodded in the fourth goal from close range, capitalizing on more set-piece chaos in the Zambian area. Folashade Ijamilusi put the icing on the cake in stoppage time, tapping home after good work from Rasheedat Ajibade.
The result was a stark contrast to Zambia’s podium finish at the last WAFCON in 2022 and extends Nigeria’s unblemished record against the Copper Queens — who are still yet to score a goal against the Falcons in open play. Their lone win two years ago came via a Nigerian own goal.
With this emphatic victory, Nigeria surge into the semi-finals full of confidence, unbreached at the back and firing on all cylinders up front. Their quest for a 10th continental title remains firmly on track.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Two of the continent’s in-form teams, Nigeria and Zambia, will lock horns in a tantalising quarter-final clash at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. The match, scheduled for this Friday at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca (18:00 local / 17:00 GMT), brings together two pre-tournament favourites with contrasting styles and histories—but matching ambitions.
This fixture marks their fourth meeting at WAFCON, but the first in a direct knockout encounter.
While Nigeria boasts a superior head-to-head record—having dominated the first two group-stage encounters in 2014 and 2018 with emphatic 6–0 and 4–0 wins respectively—Zambia drew first blood in a meaningful way by claiming a 1–0 victory in the 2022 third-place playoff.
That win, though aided by a freak own goal involving Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, marked a psychological breakthrough for the Copper Queens.
For the Super Falcons, the fixture presents both a test of resolve and a chance to reassert dominance.
Nigeria topped Group A with two wins and a draw, keeping clean sheets in all three matches for the first time since 1998.
Their form reflects a defensive steel rarely seen in past editions, with a newfound tactical maturity complementing their traditional attacking flair. However, their four goals from 15 shots on target (an 8.51% conversion rate) point to a need for sharper finishing in front of goal.
Zambia, on the other hand, arrive as the tournament’s early entertainers. Unbeaten in the group stage with two wins and a draw, they’ve shown an aggressive, front-loaded approach—scoring early in each of their matches and converting six goals from 16 shots on target, a significantly higher 19.35% efficiency.
With Racheal Kundananji scoring in every group game and captain Barbra Banda orchestrating play with creativity and purpose, the Copper Queens are a side brimming with confidence.
Still, Zambia’s WAFCON history against Nigeria remains lopsided. No Zambian player has ever officially scored against the Super Falcons in open play. Even their 2022 victory came without a direct strike finding the net.
In contrast, Nigeria’s 10 goals across previous meetings have come from nine different players, underlining the depth and unpredictability of their attacking threats.
Interestingly, Zambia’s trajectory against West African (WAFU) nations has shifted. After failing to win any of their first three encounters (two losses to Nigeria and a draw with Côte d’Ivoire), they have since gone unbeaten in four such games, including wins over Togo, Senegal (twice), and that memorable 2022 win over Nigeria.
Friday’s quarter-final is thus more than a fight for a semi-final spot—it is a clash of eras and ideologies. Nigeria’s experience, tournament pedigree, and defensive evolution will go head-to-head with Zambia’s rising ambition, efficiency, and attacking flair.
As the spotlight shifts to Casablanca, one thing is certain: history may favour Nigeria, but Zambia will not be bound by it. A fierce contest awaits.
Past WAFCON Meetings:
- *14 October 2014, Group A: Zambia 0–6 Nigeria (Okobi 2′, Ohale 6′, Oparanozie 25′ pen, 81′, Oshoala 64′, Nkwocha 84′) – Windhoek, Namibia
- *21 November 2018, Group B: Nigeria 4–0 Zambia (Oparanozie 41′, Ordega 69′, Ajibade 75′, Okoronkwo 90+4′) – Cape Coast, Ghana
- *22 July 2022, Third-place match: Nigeria 0–1 Zambia (Nnadozie 29′ own goal) – Casablanca, Morocco
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