Defending champions South Africa will aim to reach a third consecutive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final when they face arch-rivals Nigeria in Tuesday’s eagerly anticipated semi-final showdown in Casablanca.

Banyana Banyana’s march to the last four marks their 11th WAFCON semi-final appearance—second only to Nigeria’s 13.

With five wins and five losses in previous semis, South Africa will be looking to tilt the balance and book a place in their sixth final.

Victory would also see South Africa achieve a rare feat: reaching three successive WAFCON finals. Only Nigeria have managed that, with back-to-back finals from 1998 to 2006 and again from 2014 to 2018.

Under head coach Desiree Ellis, South Africa has become a model of consistency. This will be their third semi-final appearance in a row under her watch, following a 2-0 win over Mali in 2018 and a dramatic 1-0 victory over Zambia in 2022.

 Banyana Banyana are in safe hands under former skipper and now coach, Desiree Ellis.

Banyana Banyana went on to lift their first-ever WAFCON title in Morocco, and now seek to defend it.

The South Africans are riding an impressive 15-match unbeaten run in open play at WAFCON—just one shy of Nigeria’s all-time record of 16.

Their last regulation-time defeat came in 2016, a 1-0 semi-final loss to Nigeria, which they’ll be eager to avenge.

Ellis’ side has also dominated West African opposition in recent years, going unbeaten in their last seven WAFCON matches against teams from the region (W5 D2).

 In knockout play under Ellis, Banyana Banyana boast a perfect record in regulation time—winning all four of their direct knockout matches (vs. Senegal in 2018 and 2024, Tunisia in 2022, and Zambia in 2022), with five clean sheets in six outings.

Statistically, South Africa has been one of the most efficient sides at WAFCON 2024. They lead all semi-finalists in shots on target (24), while goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has made 13 saves in just three matches—surpassing her 2022 tournament total.

Dlamini has kept six clean sheets in nine WAFCON appearances, conceding only three times.

Coach Ellis also has another dependable option between the sticks—Kaylin Swart, who shut out Nigeria twice in 2018, first in a 1-0 group stage win and again in the goalless final that Nigeria eventually won on penalties.

South Africa have shown admirable discipline as well, committing the fewest fouls (36) among the semi-finalists, while being fouled 54 times—highlighting their composure and ability to draw pressure.

Their current run of four consecutive WAFCON knockout wins is the longest in their history. The last time they lost a knockout match was in the 2016 semi-final against none other than Nigeria.

Their overall knockout record now reads seven wins and five losses (including three penalty shootouts). Their only shoot-out victory came in this year’s quarter-final win over Senegal, having previously lost in 2006 (vs. Cameroon) and in the 2018 final (vs. Nigeria).

Now, with history and redemption on the line, Banyana Banyana must once again navigate the familiar challenge of toppling the Super Falcons—African football’s most decorated side.

It’s a battle of champions. Of records and revenge. And when Nigeria and South Africa take to the pitch in Casablanca on Tuesday, the whole continent will be watching.

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Morocco continues their fairytale journey at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as they prepare to face Ghana in the semi-final on Tuesday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat (20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT), following an emphatic 3-1 victory over Mali in the quarter-finals.

The win secured Morocco’s place in their second consecutive WAFCON semi-final and marked their biggest-ever knockout victory at the tournament.

Now, the 2022 runners-up are just one match away from a second straight final and the chance to etch their names further into continental football history.

Victory over Ghana would make Morocco the 10th host nation to reach a WAFCON final and only the second—after Nigeria—to reach multiple finals as tournament hosts. Nigeria achieved the feat in 1998, 2002, and 2006.

The Atlas Lionesses have built a reputation for consistency and attacking verve. They have now scored in 10 consecutive WAFCON matches, their longest goal-scoring streak in the tournament’s history.

While they’ve never kept a clean sheet in a WAFCON knockout game, they’ve found the net in all four of their matches beyond the group stage—a testament to their resilience and firepower.

Their knockout stage record is a perfect three wins from three, including a dramatic penalty shootout triumph over Nigeria in the 2022 semi-final.

Sanaa Mssoudy, who scored the equaliser in that epic contest, continues to be a key figure. Against Mali, she was involved in a game-high 20 duels, winning 12 of them.

Up front, Ibtissam Jraidi has led the line with clinical efficiency, converting two penalties in the current tournament—including a brace against Zambia.

Morocco’s penalty record is flawless so far, with four out of four successfully converted in this edition. Across the last two tournaments, they’ve scored seven goals from the spot, highlighting their composure under pressure.

Head coach Jorge Vilda has opted for consistency in selection, naming the same starting XI in all four matches.

A total of 17 players have featured, with 13 appearing in every match. Key substitutes Elodie Nakkach and Imane Saoud have played in all four games, providing depth and energy off the bench.

Morocco’s rise in women’s football has been rapid and historic. From group-stage exits in early editions to a runner-up finish in 2022, the Atlas Lionesses are now a formidable force on home soil, backed by fervent local support.

As they prepare to take on a Ghanaian side hungry for a first final since 2006, Morocco stands on the cusp of another major milestone—one that would confirm their transformation from dark horses to continental powerhouses.

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Ghana’s Black Queens will look to break new ground at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they take on host nation Morocco in a highly anticipated semi-final clash on Tuesday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat (20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT).

The encounter marks Ghana’s seventh semi-final appearance at the continental championship. Their previous six outings yielded three wins and three defeats—all settled in regulation time. A win in Rabat would send Ghana to a fourth WAFCON final, having previously reached the title match in 1998, 2002, and 2006—all played on Nigerian soil. This time, they seek to reach their first final outside of West Africa.

Historically, Ghana’s fortunes in the semi-finals have followed a regional pattern. Their three wins came in West African editions: a 4-1 rout of DR Congo in 1998, a dramatic 3-2 extra-time triumph over Cameroon in 2002, and a narrow 1-0 win against South Africa in 2006.

 In contrast, all three of their semi-final losses occurred outside West Africa—1-0 to South Africa (2000) and twice to Cameroon (2004 and 2016), both by a single-goal margin.

In total, Ghana’s WAFCON knockout stage record, excluding penalty shootouts, stands evenly at seven wins and six losses.

However, they boast a perfect penalty shootout record, having defeated Ethiopia in 2004 (third-place match) and most recently, edged Algeria in the 2024 quarter-finals.

The goalless draw against Algeria was significant—it marked Ghana’s first clean sheet of the tournament and their first in six WAFCON matches.

While it was a gritty and defensive display, the Black Queens will be concerned by their lack of attacking output in that match, managing just two shots on target— their lowest tally in the tournament so far.

Head coach  Kim Lars Björkegren’s Swedish side will need to find a better attacking rhythm if they are to break down a high-scoring Moroccan team backed by a vocal home crowd.

 Yet Ghana’s pedigree at this level and their mental toughness—highlighted by their perfect record in shootouts—will give them confidence heading into what could be another tightly contested semi-final.

For Ghana, this is more than a shot at a fourth final—it’s a chance to break a long-standing regional barrier and prove that they can reach the WAFCON summit regardless of the venue.

With history beckoning, the Black Queens are poised for a defining moment under the Rabat lights.

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