Ghana beat Algeria on penalties in Wafcon quarters

Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan saved two spot kicks in the shootout

Ghana beat Algeria 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) to set up a semi-final meeting with hosts Morocco.

Cynthia Konlan was the hero for the Black Queens, saving from Marine Dafeur and Ines Belloumou in the shootout before Evelyn Badu converted the winner to spark joyous celebrations.

The West Africans were the brighter side for the majority of a scrappy encounter in Berkane, with Algeria lacking a cutting edge in the final third.

Stella Nyamekye thought she had fired the Ghana in front in the 27th minute, but her fierce strike was ruled out after a VAR check for a marginal offside in the build-up.

Badu then spurned a glorious chance to win it with three minutes remaining of the 90 when she failed to connect with a knock-down some eight yards out.

The two sides cancelled each other out during extra time, with the only chance of note coming when Algeria midfielder Ghoutia Karchouni sent a long-range effort over the bar at the end of the first period.

Ghana striker Doris Boaduwaa threatened twice late on but first goalkeeper Chloe N'Gazi and then centre-back Roselene Khezami made vital clearances.

Algeria exit the tournament without conceding a goal while the Black Queens will now travel to Rabat to take on Morocco, who beat Mali 3-1 on Friday, in the last four on Tuesday (19:00 GMT).

Ghana hold nerve from 12 yards

Algeria, who had qualified for the knockout stage for the first time, may possess a miserly defence well marshalled by N'Gazi, but up front they only managed one goal in four outings during their stay in Morocco.

Their best chance of the quarter-final came as early as the third minute when the North Africans worked the ball across the box to Lina Boussaha, only for the winger to scuff her left-footed shot straight at Konlan.

Ghana had the ball in the net midway through the first half after Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was released down the right flank and her cut-back was picked up by Nyamekye, who stepped inside onto her right foot and lashed high into the net from just inside the area.

Yet the effort was chalked off after a lengthy VAR check, which showed London City Lionesses forward Boye-Hlorkah had been ahead of the last defender by mere inches.

With few clear cut chances, and Algeria in particular labouring in attack, penalties appeared inevitable from midway through the second half.

Les Vertes were immediately on the back foot in the shootout when Dafeur, after a long wait for the referee's whistle, placed her left-footed effort too close to Konlan.

N'Gazi had been named as the best goalkeeper from the group stage but had little chance of reaching Ghana's well-placed penalties and her opposite number saved again in the third round when she leapt to her left to palm away full-back Belloumou's strike.

Badu was left to win it - and make amends for the chance she passed up late in the game - to put the Black Queens into the last four for the first time since 2016.

The West Africans have finished as Wafcon runners-up three times and will now have to pull off an upset against Morocco if they are to go on and claim their first continental title.