Wafcon 2024: Nigeria vs South Africa and Morocco vs Ghana in last four

There are 2 intriguing semi-final clashes successful store astatine the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations successful Morocco connected Tuesday.

First up, nine-time champions Nigeria person a mouth-watering necktie against defending champions South Africa successful Casablanca astatine 16:00 GMT.

Then, successful Rabat, hosts Morocco look Ghana, the lowest-ranked broadside remaining, astatine 19:00.

There is inactive a accidental we could spot a repetition of the 2022 final, erstwhile Banyana Banyana bushed the Atlas Lionesses 2-1, backmost successful the superior connected Saturday evening.

Form and anticipation would constituent towards a gathering betwixt Nigeria and Morocco, portion an all-West African matter could adhd an other constituent to a tourney that has already provided plentifulness of talking points.

Morocco and Ghana would beryllium first-time winners, portion the Confederation of African Football has doubled the prize cookware for the victors to $1m and besides unveiled a caller trophy.

Nigeria delivered a connection to the remainder of the continent erstwhile they thrashed much-fancied Zambia 5-0 successful Casablanca successful the past eight.

Former Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie described the scoreline arsenic "unexpected" but saw a immense betterment from their outings from the radical stage.

"The Super Falcons person that winning mentality - they amusement up for large games," she told Sportsworld connected the BBC World Service.

"They showed who the African elephantine truly is."

The onus is present connected the West Africans to backmost up that broad show against different of the continent's apical sides erstwhile they instrumentality to the Larbi Zaouli Stadium.

"We anticipation to support this mentality," goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie told the BBC World Service.

"Big games specify Nigeria."

While they are yet to concede successful their quest for a record-extending 10th Wafcon crown - a bid that has been dubbed Mission X - South Africa volition airs the astir hard situation yet.

The holders squeezed past Senegal 4-1 connected penalties aft a 0-0 gully and person had 24 hours little to retrieve from those exertions – arsenic good arsenic travelling westbound from the metropolis of Berkane.

However, Banyana Banyana manager Desiree Ellis says her players volition not usage that arsenic an excuse.

"One 100 and 20 minutes with a time little to prepare, with a time to travel, takes a batch retired of you.

"But I don't person capable words to picture this team: the resilience, the courage, the never-say-die attitude, the consenting to combat for each other."

Nigeria got the amended of South Africa successful the Wafcon last successful some 2000 and 2018, but Ellis' broadside triumphed 2-1 erstwhile they met successful the radical signifier 3 years ago.

"They are the defending champions and the unit is truly connected them," Oparanozie said.

"The rivalry has been connected for years and the semi-final is going to beryllium a pugnacious 1 for Nigeria.

"The Mission X docket has been pushed. South Africa seemed to beryllium the lone squad that would really forestall Nigeria from achieving that."

The tourney hosts stay connected way for a 2nd successive quality successful the last aft easing past Mali 3-1.

Another fervent location assemblage astatine the 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium is expected successful the superior to cheer connected the Atlas Lionesses.

"The nationalist that has travel to the stadium has helped america from the archetypal moment," manager Jorge Vilda said.

"It has ever been similar that and we anticipation it volition beryllium the aforesaid successful the semi-final. What we person successful our caput is the volition to scope the final."

Ghana are backmost successful the past 4 for the archetypal clip since 2016, having overcome Algeria connected penalties aft a scrappy 0-0 gully connected Saturday.

Their manager Kim Lars Bjorkegren is not fazed by the likelihood of a partisan assemblage and thinks his broadside could provender disconnected immoderate nerves amongst the location fans.

"It tin assistance you if you person a bully time arsenic a location country, but I cognize it tin beryllium the opposite," the Swede said.

"I cognize however quiescent it tin be, adjacent if you are 21,000 oregon immoderate you volition be. If we people a goal, the boost it volition springiness america volition beryllium huge, and you tin alteration however you deliberation astir the situation.

"We cognize they person quality, but similar each teams they person their weaknesses arsenic well."

Vilda is aiming for his 2nd large trophy aft guiding Spain to the Women's World Cup successful 2023.

According to Moroccan writer Saad Moufakkir, the 44-year-old has added other layers to the North Africans' crippled since his assignment successful October 2023.

"He brings the Spanish vibe and present we are amended arsenic a unit," helium said.

"We are assured we tin decorativeness games earlier. With this coach, particularly connected the tactical level, I deliberation we person a batch of weapons.

"We tin onslaught from the wings, we tin spell done the mediate and we tin property precocious oregon beryllium backmost and hold for the counters. We person got options and I deliberation this is the biggest interaction [he had on] the nationalist team."