By KUNLE SOLAJA.
As the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 gathers pace towards its climactic finale, football fans across the continent are eyeing a potentially explosive semifinal fixture that could extend beyond the boundaries of sport: Morocco vs Algeria.
With Morocco already securing their place in the semi-finals after a composed quarterfinal display, all eyes now turn to Saturday’s crunch tie between Algeria and Ghana.
Should Algeria overcome the challenge of the Black Queens, they will set up a much-anticipated North African derby against Morocco—a fixture laden with political subtext and historical rivalry.
While the Women’s AFCON is first and foremost a celebration of footballing excellence and gender empowerment across Africa, the prospect of a Morocco-Algeria clash evokes decades of diplomatic tension between the two neighbours.
Political relations between Rabat and Algiers have been severely strained in recent years, culminating in the severing of diplomatic ties in 2021, with borders closed and official communications frozen.
Yet, in the sporting arena, the possibility of a meeting between the two national teams—this time in the women’s game—presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
On the one hand, it raises security and protocol sensitivities for CAF and tournament organisers. On the other, it offers a stage for unity and sportsmanship to triumph over political division.
Historically, matches between Morocco and Algeria have been fiercely contested, with emotions running high both on and off the pitch. A potential semifinal clash in WAFCON 2024 would be the first time the women’s teams of both countries face off at this level, adding a new dimension to an already rich and complex rivalry.
For Morocco, who are hosting the tournament and aiming to win their maiden continental title on home soil, the stakes are high—not just for national pride, but for consolidating their growing status as a powerhouse in African women’s football.
Algeria, should they dispatch Ghana, would be relishing the chance to make a statement of their own by toppling the hosts in what would be a highly symbolic victory.
CAF is expected to be closely monitoring developments, especially in terms of crowd management, officiating neutrality, and the political optics of such a match-up.
However, fans and football purists will be hoping that if the fixture does happen, it will be remembered for the quality of play, the competitiveness of spirit, and the promotion of African women’s football.
Kick-off for the Algeria vs Ghana quarterfinal is set for Saturday, with the victor booking a semifinal date against the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco—potentially setting the stage for one of the most politically charged and emotionally intense matches in WAFCON history.
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