Morocco, Algeria reach WAFCON semifinals and qualify for FIFA World Cup

The 2 North African nations go the archetypal teams from the continent to suffice for adjacent year’s World Cup successful Brazil.

A triumphant nighttime for North Africa ended connected Saturday with hosts Morocco and Algeria reaching the Women’s Africa of Nations (WAFCON) semifinals and the 2027 World Cup successful Brazil.

They took contrasting paths to quarterfinals occurrence arsenic Morocco built a two-goal lead, past defended resolutely against South Africa for a 2-1 triumph successful Rabat.

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Algeria fell down against the Ivory Coast successful Casablanca, past took vantage of their opponents having a subordinate sent disconnected to people doubly and look 2-1 winners.

In the semifinals connected Wednesday, Morocco volition look defending champions Nigeria oregon Cameroon portion Algeria tackle Ghana oregon elephantine killers Malawi.

No North African federation has won the marquee African women’s shot tournament, which has been dominated by Nigeria with 10 titles.

The lone different countries to became WAFCON champions since its debut successful 1998 were Equatorial Guinea doubly and South Africa once.

Morocco, runners-up to South Africa 4 years ago, led aft 31 minutes acknowledgment to a 2nd extremity of the tourney from Sakina Ouzraoui.

Hanane Ait El Haj accrued the pb six minutes into the 2nd fractional by converting a penalty. South African prima Thembi Kgatlana past netted connected 67 minutes to acceptable up a tense finish.

Morocco players clasp a FIFA World Cup 2027 banner aft defeating South Africa [Jalal Morchidi/EPA]

In Casablanca, Ines Konan enactment the Ivorians up connected 29 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 players earlier half-time erstwhile teen N’Sira Ouedraogo was sent off.

Algeria struck doubly wrong six minutes conscionable earlier and aft the hr people done substitute Ines Khiri and Amira Braham to crook the lucifer successful their favour.

Between the Algerian goals, Ivory Coast squandered a accidental to regain the pb erstwhile Rebecca Elloh struck the station from a penalty.

The red-carding of 18-year-old Ouedraogo, for kicking Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi successful the face, proved pivotal arsenic her squad mislaid the ascendancy they established during the opening half.

After hardly threatening to people during the archetypal 45 minutes, Algeria took power aft the interruption and created capable chances to person won much decisively.