Black Queens Triumph Over Algeria in Penalty Shootout to Reach WAFCON Semifinals

By Atta Kwasi Dodoo | BACS25201

In a dramatic and hard fought quarterfinal clash on Saturday evening, Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, edged past Algeria with a 4–2 victory on penalties after a tense 0–0 draw in regulation and extra time at the WAFCON 2025 tournament in Berkane, Morocco.

The highly anticipated match lived up to expectations, showcasing strong tactical discipline from both sides. While Ghana dominated possession and created more scoring chances, Algeria’s solid defense one of the best in the tournament held firm to deny the Ghanaians any goals in open play.

The Black Queens thought they had taken the lead in the first half through Stella Nyamekye, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Despite several more attempts from the Ghanaian midfield and forward line, the Algerian goalkeeper and backline refused to budge, forcing the game into extra time and ultimately, a penalty shootout.

When it mattered most, Ghana’s goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan rose to the occasion, pulling off two brilliant saves to deny Marine Dafeur and Inès Belloumou. On the other side, the Black Queens made no mistakes from the spot, with Josephine Bonsu, Doris Boaduwaa, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, and Evelyn Badu all calmly converting their kicks to seal a 4–2 shootout win.

Speaking after the match, Ghana’s head coach Kim Björkegren praised his team's composure and defensive discipline. “We knew it would be tough. Algeria had not conceded a goal in the tournament, and their defensive structure was solid. But I’m proud of how the girls handled the pressure,” he said.

Algeria, despite the loss, leave the tournament with heads held high. This marks their first-ever quarterfinal appearance in WAFCON history, and they did so without conceding a single goal in open play an impressive feat for a side that came in as underdogs.

The victory means Ghana now advances to the semifinals, where they will face hosts Morocco on Tuesday, July 22, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

As the Black Queens continue their quest for a first-ever WAFCON title, fans back home are rallying behind them with growing excitement and pride. With the team’s defensive strength, unity, and renewed hunger, Ghana’s dream of continental glory may finally be within reach.

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