Morocco And Zambia Win To Reach Wafcon Quarter-finals

Morocco vanished apical of Group A astatine nan 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) aft Yasmin Mrabet's punishment earned nan hosts a 1-0 triumph complete Senegal, while Zambia besides won to unafraid their transition to nan quarter-finals.

Morocco emerged triumphant from a scrappy brushwood successful Rabat, which rested connected a arguable determination made pinch nan thief of VAR precocious successful nan first half.

Referee Shamirah Nabadda initially appeared to miss a coming together betwixt Senegal goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye and Morocco striker Ibtissam Jraidi, but replays intelligibly showed Ndiaye onslaught her force successful nan look pinch 1 forearm while carrying nan shot pinch nan other.

After a lengthy delay, Nabadda was advised to spell to nan monitor, and though screens said it was to cheque a imaginable reddish card, Nabadda pointed to nan spot alternatively and issued nan fortunate Ndiaye pinch only a yellow.

Mrabet kept her cool to nonstop nan keeper nan incorrect measurement successful nan 2nd infinitesimal of stoppage time, converting Morocco's 3rd punishment of nan group stage.

The consequence intends nan Atlas Lionesses decorativeness Group A unbeaten pinch 7 points, up of Zambia connected extremity quality aft nan Copper Queens hit DR Congo 1-0 successful their last fixture successful Mohammedia.

Racheal Kundananji's ninth-minute extremity was capable to spot disconnected nan Leopardesses, who had midfielder Falonne Pambani sent disconnected successful nan 69th infinitesimal for a foul connected Ireen Lungu.

Zambia look nan winners of Group B successful nan past eight, which will supply a blockbuster conflict against Nigeria if nan grounds nine-time Wafcon winners debar conclusion against Algeria connected Sunday (19:00 GMT).

Morocco, meanwhile, will return connected nan third-placed finisher successful Group B aliases Group C.

Senegal vanished 3rd successful Group A pinch 3 points and must hold to spot if they will advancement to nan quarter-finals arsenic 1 of nan 2 best-ranked third-place sides.

The ambiance wrong nan Olympic Stadium successful Rabat was crackling pinch anticipation up of kick-off betwixt Morocco and Senegal and, for nan first clip this tournament, location was not a spare spot to beryllium seen.

Pounding drums helped assistance nan measurement further, while elephantine Moroccan flags waved successful a stiff breeze that made conditions acold cooler erstwhile nan sun went down.

But fans hoping to beryllium entertained by 2 teams who had recovered goalscoring easy successful their first 2 group games were near disappointed by a stop-start matter that often threatened to go ill-tempered.

While nan determination for Mrabet's extremity was nan astir important involution of nan evening, nan adjunct referees' flags besides played a cardinal role.

Both teams had nan shot successful nan nett during nan 90 minutes, only to spot nan goals ruled retired by a precocious flags for offside. Jraidi and Senegal guardant Nguenar Ndiaye besides saw nan emblem spell up pursuing bully chances they grounded to finish.

While astir of those offside decisions were clear, VAR had to intervene again successful added clip astatine nan extremity of nan crippled aft Morocco skipper Ghizlane Chebbak recovered nan backmost of nan net.

Referee Nabadda was besides engaged keeping subject successful what developed into a niggly affair, issuing a full of 7 yellowish cards.

While Senegal huffed and puffed, nan West Africans ne'er really looked for illustration creating overmuch successful nan measurement of clear chances.

The hosts ever looked nan superior footballing broadside and saw Chebbak and Jraidi besides spurn fantabulous opportunities that were onside.

Topping nan group intends Morocco enactment successful nan superior for their quarter-final connected Friday, while Zambia stay successful Mohammedia for their conflict nan aforesaid day.

If Senegal do negociate to progress, nan Lionesses of Teranga will recreation to Oujda to return connected nan winners of Group C adjacent Saturday.