The Black Queens of Ghana are back in the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2016, after defeating Algeria 4-2 on penalties in Rabat.
The dramatic quarter-final ended 0-0 after extra time, but Ghana held their nerve in the shootout to keep their WAFCON 2024 dream alive.
It was a tense and physically demanding contest at the Stade Moulay Hassan, but the Queens showed character, resilience, and discipline to outlast a stubborn Algerian side.
In front of a small but passionate Ghanaian support, the team delivered a performance full of heart; if not goals and booked a date with host nation Morocco in the semi-finals.
Early pressure but no breakthrough
Right from the start, Ghana looked hungry. Stella Nyamekye whipped in a teasing cross in the opening minutes, but it narrowly missed the head of Pricilla Adubea. Algeria pushed back with a few early corners, but the Black Queens stood firm.
Midway through the first half, Nyamekye thought she had given Ghana the lead with a smart finish, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.
That moment captured Ghana’s frustration in the final third; promising moves let down by poor decisions or a lack of cutting edge.
Second half struggle
In the second half, Ghana controlled possession but still couldn’t find the breakthrough. Doris Boaduwaa and Comfort Yeboah were lively down the wings, while captain Portia Boakye remained solid at the back despite picking up a yellow card.
Coach Kim Lars Byokegren brought on Evelyn Badu and Adubea to inject fresh energy. Badu nearly made an instant impact, bursting into the box late in the game, but her finish let her down. Algeria, meanwhile, rarely threatened Konlan’s goal but stayed organised and compact.
90’ – ⏱️
Full time and this tie will be decided in extra time…!!!
🇩🇿 0:0 🇬🇭 #𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒔🇬🇭 #𝑶𝒖𝒓𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝑶𝒖𝒓𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 ⚽️💪🏾#TotalEnergies𝑾𝑨𝑭𝑪𝑶𝑵2024 pic.twitter.com/ZGO4Hvg7gr
— Ghana Women National Teams 🇬🇭 (@GhanaWNT) July 19, 2025
Extra-time tension
As the match dragged into extra time, the physical toll was clear. Still, Ghana kept pushing. Boaduwaa and Linda Eshun had half chances, and Badu missed arguably the clearest opportunity of the game, blasting over from close range after some neat build-up play.
Grace Asantewaa and Portia Boakye battled on despite knocks, helping to keep the Algerians at bay and take the tie to penalties.
Penalty perfection
With everything on the line, the Black Queens delivered when it mattered. Ghana converted all four of their spot kicks confidently, while goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan pulled off a brilliant save to tilt the shootout in Ghana’s favour with goals from Doris Boaduwaa, Sandra Owusu-Ansah (subbed in for shootouts), Priscilla Adubea and Josephine Bonsu
. Algeria missed two, and Ghana sealed a 4-2 win to spark celebrations among players, fans, and technical staff.
What’s next?
Ghana will now face host nation Morocco in the semi-finals. It will be a huge test, but the Queens have already shown they have the mental toughness and defensive steel to compete with the best.
🎉 SEMIS BOUND!
The Black Queens have done it! 🇬🇭🔥
With heart, grit, and unstoppable passion, the Queens storms into the WAFCON Semi-Finals!Next stop: Glory 🏆
##𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒔🇬🇭 #𝑶𝒖𝒓𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝑶𝒖𝒓𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 ⚽️💪🏾#TotalEnergies𝑾𝑨𝑭𝑪𝑶𝑵2024 pic.twitter.com/6rNJ95vaYA
— Ghana Women National Teams 🇬🇭 (@GhanaWNT) July 19, 2025
Star performers:
- Cynthia Konlan – Kept Ghana in the game with a huge save during the shootout.
- Evelyn Badu – Full of running and intent, despite missing a big chance.
- Portia Boakye – A true leader in defence and midfield.
The Black Queens are just one step away from their first WAFCON final since 2006 and the nation is behind them every step of the way.
