The Morocco national women’s team will be keen to make it to the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the very first time in their history.
The Atlas Lionesses, however, have a tough hurdle ahead of them in Nigeria’s Super Falcons who have made it to the WAFCON final on nine different occasions and won all.
While the Moroccans are guaranteed maximum support at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex from their vociferous fans, Coach Randy Waldrum and his ladies will be counting on their experience and achievements to give them the advantage tonight.
Will the Falcons make it to a 10th final or will the Lionesses create history with a first trip?
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Kick off! The second semi final is underway in Rabat
Bright start by the Atlas Lionesses.. come close to getting an early opener
Free kick for Nigeria to be taken by Onome Ebi
Going by the FIFA rankings.. the Super Falcons are number one in Africa and 39th in the world while Morocco are 8th in Africa and 77th in the world
The FIFA rankings has no bearing on this game so far as the Lionesses are taking the game to the Falcons
Good run by Onumonu on the right flank but no support for the cut back pass
Still Morocco 0-0 Nigeria after 18 minutes
Okobi does well on the edge of the Morocco box and Nigeria wins a corner kick
Plumptre whips a low pass into the Morocco box but the Lionesses intercepts nicely
Both Nigeria and Morocco have conceded twice in this tournament..they are being careful tonight not to let in any goals
South Africa women’s national team waiting for either the Super Falcons or Atlas Lionesses in the final.
56 goals have been scored in the 24 games played so far at the 2022 WAFCON… Hopefully, we would see more in this 25th match
Half an hour already gone in Rabat.. Morocco 0-0 Nigeria
Free kick for Nigeria but wasteful delivery by Ngozi Okobi
Chance for Super Falcons but Ucheibe failed to get the shot on target
Uchenna Kanu charges into the Morocco box but she could not get the ball through to any of her teammates
Nnadozie makes a quick run out for a save.. she has largely been on holiday tonight
Ajibade tries a long pass to Onumonu but it was too much for the forward
Splendid ball control by Uchenna Kanu who tries to surge forward but she has been checkmated by the Moroccan defenders
Ajibade goes down on a challenge in the Morocco box
Half Time: Morocco 0-0 Nigeria
Second Half is underway… the Super Falcons with the restart
Referee goes to consult the VAR for a possible infringement
RED CARD: Halimatu Ayinde booked for a rash tackle
The 27-year-old with a needless rough tackle that has now reduced the Super Falcons to 10 players
Morocco come quite close but Ohale heads away from the crossline to deny the hosts an opening goal
Ashleigh Plumptre saves Nigeria with a crucial clearance off the line as the Moroccan Ladies are now piling the pressure on the Super Falcons
GOALLLL!!! Uche Kanu get the opening goal
Ajibade whips in a good cross that was headed by Onumonu against the bar but Kanu was there for the rebound
Mirabet credited with an own goal
GOAL.. Morocco get the eqaliser
Ayadi with the crucial goal for the hosts
Ajibade with a yellow card
Another VAR check for a possible red card for Nigeria
SAD NIGHT: Ajibade gets a red card
The Super Falcons reduced to 9.. Two red cards to Ajibade and Ayinde
Long night for the Super Falcons with as much as 20 minutes to play
Ball possession in favour of Morocco with 54.1% compared to Nigeria’s 45.9%
Hamstring injury for captain Onome Ebi, the bad night just got worse for the Super Falcons
Alozie brought in to replace the injured Ebi
Rita Chikwelu comes in for Uchenna Kalu
Appeal for penalty by Morocco waved off by the referee
A little over 45,000 fans live at the stadium watching the Morocco vs Nigeria game
Gift Monday has been brought in to replace Ngozi Okobi
Morocco with a glorious chance to kill the game but fires wide from close range
Gift Monday wins a free kick for Nigeria
Plumptre stops Ayani from hitting the ball in the Nigeria box
SAVE… Nnadozie parries the ball away for a corner kick
Another VAR checking for a possible penalty for Morocco
After 90 Minutes Morocco 1-1 Nigeria
The first half of the extra time begins
Free kick for Morocco as Plumptre makes a crucial differ
Nigeria escape from another onslaught from the Lionesses
Despite being two players down, the Super Falcons are still hanging on
Yellow card for Morocco’s Mssoudy
Ayani went solo for Morocco but her final low drive well kept by Nnadozie
The first half of the extra time is over … Morocco 1-1 Nigeria
CHANCE… Gift Monday with a thunderous strike that rattles the crossbar
New entrant Otu pushing things up for the Super Falcons
Otu came on for Ucheibe
The clock is winding down as the Super Falcons are holding on despite their numerical disadvantage
After 120 minutes: Morocco 1-1 Nigeria
The game goes into penalty kicks
A tense atmosphere as the penalty kicks get underway
Rita Chikwelu with the first kick for Nigeria… she scores!!
Ayadi goes for Morocco.. she scores
Onumonu with the second kick for Nigeria and Kadijat saves for Morocco
Cheebak with the second kick for Morocco and scores in style
Otu with Nigeria’s third kick and scores
Ridwan takes the third kick and scores for Morocco
Plumptre with Nigeria’s 4th and scores
Gift Monday with the last kick for Nigeria and scores
Ayani with Morocco’s last kick..
Scores…. Morocco into the final
Morocco to face South Africa in the final
FT! In Rabat| We fought bravely against all odds but bow out of the semifinal on penalties
5-4 Morocco| ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ Nigeria| ✓ × ✓✓✓#TeamMorocco 1-1 #TeamNigeria#SoarSuperFalcons #GoingFor10 #WAFCON2022 #MORNGA #WeCountOnYou @thenff
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) July 18, 2022
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Tunde Eludini is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria where he studied International Relations. He is a Senior Correspondent coordinating the sports section for PREMIUM TIMES. Twitter: @tundeyeludini
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All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria