WAFCON , Morocco 2024 semi final clashes: Nigeria and South Africa renew their rivalry today,. As Ghana faces Atlas Lioness of Morocco
Nigeria and South Africa will renew their long-standing rivalry in the
semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
(WAFCON) in Casablanca on Tuesday (kick-off 17:00 local time / 16:00
GMT).
This will be the 12th WAFCON meeting between the two sides and their
eighth consecutive clash at the tournament since 2006. They did not face
each other only in the 1998 and 2004 editions.
Their most recent meeting came in the opening match of the 2022
tournament, where South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-1. Goals from Jermaine
Seoposenwe (61′) and Hildah Magaia (63′) put South Africa ahead before
Rasheedat Ajibade pulled one back in stoppage time.
Nigeria have the upper hand in WAFCON history with eight wins (including
one on penalties in the 2018 final), while South Africa have three victories.
The two sides also met twice in the 2018 tournament. South Africa won the
group stage clash 1-0, but Nigeria won the final on penalties after a goalless
draw.
Their first-ever WAFCON meeting was in the 2000 final, where Nigeria beat
hosts South Africa 2-0. Current South Africa coach Desiree Ellis captained
the team that day.
In the 2002 semi-final, Nigeria won 5-0, their largest margin of victory in the
rivalry.
They have clashed five times in group stages: Nigeria won in 2006 (2-0),
2008 (1-0), and 2010 (2-1), while South Africa won in 2018 (1-0) and 2022
(2-1).
This will be their fourth semi-final meeting and their seventh encounter
beyond the group stage. They also met in two finals (2000, 2018), both
won by Nigeria.
South Africa’s first semi-final win over Nigeria came in 2012 (1-0). Nigeria
avenged it in 2014 (2-1) and 2016 (1-0).
Only the 2018 final was decided by penalties. All three previous semi-final
meetings ended in regulation time.
In the 2018 tournament, South Africa kept two clean sheets against Nigeria
(group stage and final)—more than in their previous eight WAFCON
meetings combined.
A total of 22 goals have been scored in their 11 past WAFCON
meetings—Nigeria 16, South Africa 6.
Since Nigeria’s 2-0 win in 2006, the last six matches to produce a winner
have all been decided by a single goal.
Under Desiree Ellis, South Africa are unbeaten in open play against Nigeria
(W2 D1), although they lost the 2018 final on penalties.
Nigeria are facing defending champions for the second time; the first was a
4-2 win over Equatorial Guinea in the 2010 final.
NIGERIA FACTS
Recorded a 5-0 win over Zambia in the quarter-finals to reach their 13th
WAFCON semi-final.
Have reached at least the semi-finals in every WAFCON edition they’ve played.
Playing a 15th WAFCON knockout match (12 semi-finals, 2 quarter-finals).
Knockout stage record: W11 L3 (8 wins in open play, 2 on penalties; 2 losses in
open play, 1 on penalties).
Knockout stage losses: 2008 (1-0 vs. Equatorial Guinea), 2012 (1-0 vs. South
Africa), 2022 (penalties vs. Morocco).
Penalty shoot-out record: 3 wins (2008, 2018 SF, 2018 Final), 1 loss (2022 SF vs.
Morocco).
Semi-final record: W9 L3 (8 wins in open play, 1 on penalties).
A win will take them to a 10th final.
Yet to concede a goal at the current tournament; first time since 1998.
Have gone 383 minutes without conceding at WAFCON.
5-0 win over Zambia marked the fifth time Nigeria scored 5+ goals in a knockout
game.
Scored 9 goals in the current tournament—the same as in 2022.
Five different players scored in the quarter-final, last achieved in 2014 vs.
Zambia.
Completed only 167 passes vs. Zambia (lowest in tournament); 43.5%
possession (first game below 50%).
Faced no shots on target against Zambia while registering 7.
Seven different goal scorers, most since 2014 (8 scorers).
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has made just 2 saves in 4 games—the fewest
among remaining keepers.
Chinwedu Ihezuo is top scorer with 3 goals.
SOUTH AFRICA FACTS
Reached the semi-finals for the 11th time—second most behind Nigeria.
Semi-final record: P10 W5 L5.
A win will take them to a sixth final.
Aiming for third straight final appearance; only Nigeria have achieved this
feat (1998–2006 and 2014–2018).
Under Ellis, they’ve reached 3 semi-finals: beat Mali (2018) and Zambia
(2022).
Unbeaten in open play in last 15 WAFCON matches; one short of Nigeria’s
record (16).
Last WAFCON loss in open play was in 2016 (1-0 vs. Ghana).
Undefeated in last 7 WAFCON games vs. West African teams (W5 D2).
Under Ellis, won all direct knockout games: beat Senegal (2018), Tunisia
(2022), Zambia (2022), and Senegal (2024).
In 6 knockout games under Ellis, kept 5 clean sheets (only conceded vs.
Morocco in 2022 final).
Most shots on target among semi-finalists (24).
Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has made 13 saves in 3 matches (compared to
11 in 6 matches in 2022).
Dlamini has 6 clean sheets in 9 WAFCON games (3 goals conceded).
Kaylin Swart, who has played once this edition, kept clean sheets against
Nigeria twice in 2018 (1-0 group win and 0-0 final).
Conceded the fewest fouls among semi-finalists (36); fouled 54 times.
Won last four WAFCON knockout matches; last loss came in 2016
semi-final vs. Nigeria (1-0).
Direct knockout record: W7 L5 (includes 3 shoot-outs).
Penalty shoot-out record: 1 win (2024 QF vs. Senegal), 2 losses (2006 vs.
Cameroon, 2018 Final vs. Nigeria).
In 2024 QF vs. Senegal, Karabo Dhlamini had most touches (102), Refiloe
Jane had most passes (55) with 88.7% accuracy.
MATCH FACTS
Morocco and Ghana will meet for only the second time in TotalEnergies CAF
Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) history when they clash in the
semi-final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday (kick-off 20:00 local
time / 19:00 GMT).
Their previous meeting came in the group stage in 2000, when Ghana claimed
a 3-0 win thanks to three goals in five minutes, Elizabeth Baidu (65′), Grace
Bayor (66′), and Nana Gyamfuah (70′), a result that sent Ghana to the
knockout rounds and eliminated Morocco.
Ghana have a challenging history against host nations at WAFCON. They’ve
played hosts six times, winning just once, a 3-0 group stage victory over South
Africa in 2004. The other five matches ended in defeat, including three finals
against Nigeria (1998, 2002, 2006) and two semi-finals (vs South Africa in
2000, vs Cameroon in 2016). Ghana have failed to score in all five of those
knockout defeats, conceding a total of seven goals.
Past WAFCON Meeting:
18 November 2000 – Group B: Ghana 3–0 Morocco (Baidu 65′, Bayor 66′,
Gyamfuah 70′)
Venue: Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa, South Africa
MOROCCO FACTS
Defeated Mali 3-1 in the quarterfinals to reach their second WAFCON
semi-final Victory would take Morocco to a second final, having been runners-up in
2022.
The 3-1 win over Mali was Morocco’s biggest ever WAFCON knockout
win.
Have now scored in 10 consecutive WAFCON matches, their longest
scoring streak in the tournament.
Morocco’s direct knockout record at WAFCON is: P3 W3 (including one
penalty shoot-out win).
Their only WAFCON loss beyond the group stage was the 2022 final
against South Africa.
A win will make Morocco the 10th host nation to reach a WAFCON final.
Morocco would become only the second host to reach multiple finals
(after Nigeria, who did so in 1998, 2002, and 2006).
Have never kept a clean sheet in a WAFCON knockout game but have
scored in all four.
Only WAFCON match decided by penalties was their 2022 semi-final vs
Nigeria, which they won 5-4.
Sanaa Mssoudy scored the equaliser in that match and was involved in a
game-high 20 duels vs Mali, winning 12.
Ibtissam Jraidi has scored two penalties in the current tournament,
including a brace vs Zambia.
Morocco have converted all four penalties they’ve been awarded in the
tournament.
Across the last two editions, Morocco have scored seven goals from
penalties.
Completed 315 passes against Mali, with Zineb Redouani leading with 42.
Hanane Ait El Haj had the most touches in the Mali match with 81.
Morocco have used the same starting XI in all four matches so far.
17 players have featured for Morocco, with 13 appearing in every match.
Elodie Nakkach and Imane Saoud have appeared in all four games as
substitutes.
GHANA FACTS
Reached their seventh WAFCON semi-final, with three wins and three losses in
previous appearances.
A win would secure a fourth final appearance (previously reached in 1998,
2002, and 2006).
All previous finals were in Nigeria; this would be the first time reaching a final
outside of West Africa.
Ghana’s three semi-final wins came in West Africa; their three losses occurred
outside West Africa (twice in South Africa, once in Cameroon).
All six previous semi-finals were decided in open play.
Previous semi-final wins: 4-1 vs DR Congo (1998), 3-2 AET vs Cameroon
(2002), 1-0 vs South Africa (2006).
Previous semi-final losses: 1-0 to South Africa (2000), 1-0 to Cameroon (2004
and 2016).
Ghana’s WAFCON knockout record (excluding shoot-outs): W7 L6.
Have won both of their penalty shootouts in the competition’s history, vs
Ethiopia (2004, third-place) and vs Algeria (2024 quarterfinal).
The 0-0 draw with Algeria was their first clean sheet at the current tournament
and first in six WAFCON games.
Managed only two shots on target against Algeria, their fewest in four matches.
Completed 216 passes in the quarterfinal win, only exceeded by 217 against
South Africa in their opening 2-0 loss.
Jenifer Cudjoe was involved in 27 duels vs Algeria, winning 16 and also
registering 11 tackles.
Susan Duah made seven clearances in the same match, the most of any player.
