BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Host nation’s stars lead scoring chart as Morocco push toward WAFCON glory

The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is entering its final stretch. Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak is at the top of the Golden Boot race. The host nation continues its inspiring run on home soil.

Chebbak scored four goals during the group stage. However, she has yet to find the net in the knockout rounds. She still shares the top spot with Senegal’s Nguenar Ndiaye. Ndiaye’s tournament ended following her team’s quarterfinal exit against South Africa.

Chebbak’s lead faces growing pressure. Fellow Moroccan forward Ibtissam Jraïdi has reignited the race. She did so with a clinical brace in the 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Mali.

Her performance brought her tally to three goals. It boosted Morocco’s hopes for a maiden WAFCON title. There is also hope for a possible sweep of individual honours.

Jraïdi plays her club football with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. She now joins a small group of active contenders. This group includes Nigeria’s Chinwendu Ihezuo, who is also on three goals. Ihezuo found the net in the Super Falcons’ 5-0 demolition of Zambia.

Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda, who each scored three goals, are now eliminated. Senegal’s Ndiaye is also out of the tournament. Morocco’s hopes for Golden Boot glory lie firmly with Chebbak and the in-form Jraïdi.

The Atlas Lionesses are preparing for a highly anticipated semifinal. Excitement continues to build among home fans. They are witnessing a historic campaign filled with team success and individual brilliance.

The possibility of a Moroccan player finishing as the tournament’s top scorer is exciting. It would truly cap a dream WAFCON for the host nation.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the updated Golden Boot standings on Monday. Just two games stand between Morocco and potential glory. Both Chebbak and Jraïdi remain central to their country’s pursuit of continental history.

Current Top Scorers – CAF WAFCON 2024, Morocco:

4 goals: Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco), Nguenar Ndiaye (Senegal – eliminated)

3 goals: Ibtissam Jraïdi (Morocco), Chinwendu Ihezuo (Nigeria), Barbra Banda (Zambia – eliminated), Racheal Kundananji (Zambia – eliminated)

2 goals: Mama Diop (Senegal – eliminated), Alice Kusi (Ghana), Aissata Traoré (Mali – eliminated), Yasmine Mrabet (Morocco)

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Only four teams remain in the race, and with each step forward, the stakes soar. After weeks of action, the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco is down to a quartet of continental powerhouses—each carrying a dream, each with a story of grit and ambition.

 From Rabat to Casablanca, the semifinals promise drama, emotion, and history in the making.

On Tuesday, the spotlight shifts to two explosive matchups: host nation Morocco face Ghana in Rabat, while defending champions South Africa battle nine-time winners Nigeria in a heavyweight showdown in Casablanca.

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Morocco vs Ghana: A Clash of Dreams and Grit

Three years ago, Morocco broke new ground by reaching the WAFCON final. That milestone lit a spark in a nation previously on the periphery of women’s football. In 2024, that spark has become a wildfire.

The Atlas Lionesses are no longer underdogs; they are contenders, driven by a raucous home crowd and the tactical acumen of former Spain coach Jorge Vilda.

Their path to the semifinals has been marked by resilience and flair, best illustrated in their 3-1 quarterfinal triumph over Mali, where talismanic striker Ibtissam Jraïdi bagged a brace to send the Olympic Stadium into raptures.

 “There’s chemistry, there’s soul,” Vilda declared after the match. “This team knows how to endure and strike at the right time.”

But Ghana pose a very different threat. The Black Queens have emerged as one of the most determined sides in the competition, playing with a chip on their shoulder.

Dismissed by many ahead of the tournament, they’ve turned that slight into steel. They edged past Algeria in a tense quarterfinal shootout after a goalless draw, thanks largely to goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan’s heroics.

“This team has been underestimated for too long,” Ghana’s Swedish head coach Kim Björkegren said. “We want to shake things up.”

Ghana’s group stage included defending champions South Africa, dangerous Mali, and spirited Tanzania—a gauntlet through which they emerged with four points and the tournament’s best defensive record, conceding just twice.

With Alice Kusi pulling strings in midfield and Chantelle Boye injecting energy into every move, the Ghanaians look poised to upset the hosts.

It’s a contest of opposites: Morocco with the best attacking return (10 goals in four games), Ghana with the stingiest defense.

The atmosphere in Rabat will be electric, but Ghana’s resolve may be equal to the noise. “Playing the host nation is exciting, not pressure,” Kusi said with a grin.

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South Africa vs Nigeria: Africa’s Heavyweight Rivalry Reignites

If ever a match deserved to be the final, it’s this. South Africa and Nigeria are two of the continent’s biggest names. Their rivalry is long defined by skill, grit, and championship pedigree. It resurfaces under the bright lights of Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca.

Nigeria have looked every inch like the team to beat. The Super Falcons breezed through the group stage with three wins, scoring four goals and conceding none.

Their quarterfinal against Zambia was a masterclass in dominance—a 5-0 victory that sent an ominous message to the rest of the field.

In their ranks, Nigeria boast some of the tournament’s standout performers.

 Full-back Michelle Alozie’s overlapping runs have tormented defences, Rasheedat Ajibade has been a midfield engine, and Esther Okoronkwo leads the assist chart with three to her name.

Head coach Justine Madugu appears to have forged a unit that blends experience with cutting-edge.

But South Africa are not to be dismissed. The defending champions had a slower start, including a 1-1 group draw with Tanzania, but when it mattered most, they dug deep.

 A goalless draw with Senegal in the quarterfinals led to a penalty shootout, where goalkeeper Andile Dlamini’s saves proved pivotal.

“There’s a fire, a collective memory,” said coach Desiree Ellis. “We know what this match means. We know what it takes to beat Nigeria.”

Indeed, the Banyana Banyana have done it before—most recently at WAFCON 2022, where they defeated Nigeria 2-1 en route to lifting the trophy.

With game-changers like Jermaine Seoposenwe, Hildah Magaia, and Lebogang Ramalepe, they have the tools to spring another surprise.

Statistically, Nigeria lead the pack: most goals scored (9), none conceded. But the margins in this rivalry are razor-thin, and Tuesday’s encounter could be decided by the smallest of details—or the boldest of plays.

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A Tournament of Hope and Excellence

The final four are preparing for battle. The 2024 WAFCON has already written a compelling chapter in the story of African women’s football.

The Moroccans are chasing a maiden crown, driven by passionate support and renewed purpose. Ghana are fueled by redemption and resilience.

South Africans  aim to make history with back-to-back titles. Nigeria is the most successful nation in the competition’s history. They want to reclaim their throne. Nigeria also wants to remind the continent of their pedigree.

Tuesday’s semifinals are more than matches—they are moments of reckoning, where legacies will be tested and futures forged.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Let the rivalry resume! A blockbuster clash is on the horizon. Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face old foes. South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will challenge them in the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 on Tuesday. This match renews a fierce rivalry that has shaped the history of African women’s football.

The highly anticipated semifinal was confirmed on Saturday evening after defending champions South Africa edged out Senegal 4-1 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time in Oudja.

The win sets up a titanic clash with Nigeria — a fixture already being billed as the “final before the final.”

For Nigeria, it is a familiar dance with destiny. The nine-time champions and perennial giants of African women’s football booked their place in the last four with a commanding 5-0 demolition of Zambia in the quarterfinals on Friday.

But they know that they have a mountain to climb, knowing all too well that South Africa, the defending champions, are no longer the underdog in this rivalry.

The Banyana Banyana famously defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 edition and were also crowned champions that year, while the Super Falcons settled for a disappointing fourth-place finish.

Before that, Nigeria edged South Africa on penalties in the 2018 final after a goalless draw, underlining just how tight and dramatic these contests have become.

Saturday’s quarterfinal between South Africa and Senegal was anything but straightforward. Despite both teams creating chances in extra time, the match went to penalties, where South Africa’s experience proved crucial.

Veteran goalkeeper Andile Dlamini emerged as the heroine, making two key saves, while South Africa converted all four of their spot kicks with composure.

With the semifinal now set, fans across the continent are bracing for a high-octane encounter between two footballing heavyweights.

 The match is expected to draw massive attention, not just for its sporting implications, but for the longstanding rivalry, national pride, and personal battles that define every Nigeria-South Africa showdown.

“It’s always intense, always emotional,” said Super Falcons captain Onome Ebi. “But we’ve been here before. We know what’s at stake. It’s time to rise.”

Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24, with the venue and time to be confirmed by CAF. The winner will advance to the final and take a giant step toward continental glory.

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