\n<\/p>\n
Having required penalties to beat Nigeria in the semi-finals three years ago, Morocco knew there was every chance a different West African opponent could cause them angst again on their own patch.<\/p>\n
And that’s exactly how it turned out against a Ghana side who have improved as the tournament has gone on. <\/p>\n
Following some physical opening exchanges, married by nervousness from both sides, it was former England youth international Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, one of the Black Queens’ standout players in Morocco, who had the first real chance, hitting her effort into the arms of Er-Rmichi after 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
Three minutes later, Ghana wasted another chance as Nyamekye decided against carrying the ball into space and shot from distance, leading to another comfortable save.<\/p>\n
Nyamekye’s opener came after a long ball found its way to full-back Josephine Bonsu, whose powerful header forced a fine reflex save from Er-Rmichi that merely allowed the lurking forward, who plays for Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, to tuck home the rebound.<\/p>\n
Nyamekye continued to be a livewire presence for the rest of the half, causing problems for the North Africans’ defence and helping to regularly turn over possession.<\/p>\n
Morocco’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda<\/a>, who made two changes to his starting line-up after none for the first four games of the tournament, sensed trouble and made a tactical change 10 minutes after the goal.<\/p>\n Off went central midfielder Elodie Nakkach to be replaced by Najat Badri, reversing one of those pre-match alterations.<\/p>\n The hosts only really threatened their opponents once in the first half, when captain Ghizlane Chebbak went down in the area following a tussle with defender Susan Duah in injury time. The officials correctly waved away the penalty claims.<\/p>\n The second half, however, saw roles entirely reversed, with Morocco dominating.<\/p>\n Badri had already forced a sharp stop from Cynthia Konlan before Ouzraoui equalised, collecting a long ball to finish past the Ghana keeper.<\/p>\n Er-Rmichi nearly immediately gifted Nyamekye a second, only to see the 19-year-old pay the price for being hasty and shooting early rather than composing herself.<\/p>\n Although Morocco continued to control proceedings, extra time looked inevitable.<\/p>\n Ghana’s best opportunity to win it came in the first half of extra time when the two players who would shortly suffer penalty heartbreak combined.<\/p>\n Yeboah’s speculative shot from range was nervously parried back into play by Er- Rmichi, with Badu lurking and nearly able to tuck home.<\/p>\n Just as in their semi-final shootout against Nigeria<\/a> at Wafcon 2022, Morocco were faultless on penalties.<\/p>\n Hanane Ait El Haj, Ibtissam Jraidi, Kenza Chapelle and Anissa Lahmari all converted, putting the pressure back on a Ghana side who defeated Algeria on spot-kicks<\/a> in their quarter-final.<\/p>\n And while Bonsu and Alice Kusi scored in the first two rounds, Badu and Yeboah could not find the net.<\/p>\n It meant the three-time runners-up have now failed to win any of their six knockout matches played against Wafcon host nations.<\/p>\n Like Ghana, Morocco have never claimed a continental title.<\/p>\n They will hope Saturday’s final against Nigeria sees a fresh name etched on the new Wafcon trophy, a reward for the country’s huge investment in the women’s game<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n