Ghana’s Black Queens battled their way into the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, after a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Algeria on Saturday.
The tense quarter-final clash ended goalless after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, with both sides struggling to break the deadlock in a fiercely contested encounter.
Ghana thought they had taken the lead in the 27th minute when Stella Nyamekye found the back of the net, but celebrations were short-lived as VAR intervened and ruled the effort offside.
Algerian goalkeeper Chloé N’Gazi stood tall throughout the match, making a string of crucial saves to deny Ghana’s attacking trio, Doris Boaduwaa, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, and Evelyn Badu and forcing the match into penalties.
However, it was Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan who stole the spotlight during the shootout.
The Black Queens’ shot-stopper pulled off vital saves from Marine Dafeur and Inès Belloumou to swing the momentum in her team’s favour.
Josephine Bonsu, Boaduwaa, Boye-Hlorkah, and Badu all held their nerve from the spot to convert for Ghana.
Algeria could only manage successful strikes from Sofia Guellati and Laura Muller as their hopes faded under pressure.
With the win, Ghana advances to the semi-finals where they will face hosts Morocco, the Atlas Lionesses — next Wednesday in what promises to be another high-stakes showdown.
“We knew it would be a tough match, but we believed in ourselves till the end,” said Konlan after the match. “Now, our focus shifts to Morocco. We’re not done yet.”
