Hosts Morocco have ended Super Falcons’ bid to clinch their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title on Monday after the nine-time winners suffered an excruciating 5-4 penalties defeat to the Atlas Lionesses at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium packed with 42,500 fans.
Halimatu Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade were both sent off in the second half following clumsy tackles, leaving the Super Falcons to hold the hosts with just 9 players on the pitch.
The win was the first ever for the Moroccan women’s team against the defending champions, after previously losing 8-0 at the 1998 edition of the WAFCON in Kaduna and 6-0 at the 2000 edition in South Africa to their foes.
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A forced own goal from Yasmin Mrabet gave the Falcons the lead in the 62nd minute, but parity was restored when Sanaa Mssoudy fired in a shot from close range after the Falcons defence failed to clear their lines, with Chiamaka Nnadozie, in goal for the Falcons, spilling a cross from the right flank.
Ifeoma Onumonu then sent her effort straight at goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi in the ensuing penalty shootout, the only player to miss her kick, to hand the hosts their biggest victory in women football.
Morocco will now play South Africa, who edged Zambia in the other last four clash, in the final.