On a night filled with tension and high drama in Rabat, hosts Morocco sealed their place in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final after edging Ghana 4-2 on penalties. The semi-final clash had ended 1-1 after extra time, but the Atlas Lionesses showed grit and composure in the shootout, much to the delight of their home crowd. Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi stepped up when it mattered most, making a vital save to send Morocco through to their second consecutive WAFCON final.

Ghana started the game with intent and energy, taking the lead in the 26th minute through Stella Nyamekye, who pounced on a loose ball inside the box after a corner. The Black Queens looked sharper in the opening half, with dangerous runs and clever link-up play from the likes of Doris Boaduwaa and Princess Marfo keeping Morocco on the back foot. But the home side came out of the break with renewed determination, and their persistence paid off when Sakina Ouzraoui Diki bundled home the equaliser in the 55th minute.

What followed was a gripping back-and-forth contest, with both sides throwing everything forward in search of a winner. Ghana’s Evelyn Badu narrowly missed a golden chance in extra time, while Morocco pushed hard with efforts from Ibtissam Jraïdi and Kenza Chapelle. As the minutes wore on, tired legs and injuries added to the drama, but neither team could find a breakthrough, forcing a shootout to decide the finalist.

When the moment came, Morocco showed nerves of steel. Hanane Aït El Haj, Jraïdi, Chapelle, and Anissa Lahmari all scored from the spot, while Ghana faltered under pressure, missing twice. As the final whistle confirmed Morocco’s place in the final against Nigeria, the stadium erupted in celebration. For Ghana, there was heartbreak, but also one more opportunity to leave the tournament with a medal when they face South Africa in the third-place playoff on Friday.

England’s Lionesses produced a thrilling comeback to defeat Italy 2-1 after extra time and advance to the final of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. In a tense semi-final clash in Geneva, the reigning champions found themselves trailing after Barbara Bonansea gave Italy a deserved lead in the first half. The Azzurre defended well and nearly saw out the win, frustrating England with disciplined play and sharp counterattacks.

But England kept pressing and were rewarded deep into stoppage time when 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang scored a dramatic equaliser in the 96th minute. The young forward reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box and fired home to bring the Lionesses level, sending the match into extra time and lifting the energy of the squad and supporters alike.

The winner came in the 119th minute when Beth Mead was brought down in the box, earning England a penalty. Chloe Kelly’s initial shot was saved, but she made no mistake with the rebound, slotting it home to seal the victory. The goal marked another iconic moment for Kelly, who also scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final. Her composure in a high-pressure moment once again proved decisive for England.

With the win, Sarina Wiegman’s side advance to their third consecutive major final, where they will face either Germany or Spain on Sunday in Basel. The match was a testament to England’s resilience and depth, with Wiegman’s tactical changes making the difference. Italy, despite the heartbreak, leave the tournament with heads held high after a valiant run to the semi-finals.

Barça Atlètic have confirmed the extension of Dreams FC winger Abdul Aziz’s loan for another year.

Aziz previously joined Barcelona’s B team in September 2024 but struggled to secure regular playing time, making only two appearances and accumulating just 26 minutes of game action.

Despite being regarded as one of Ghana’s top young talents and initially showing promise, including a training stint with the senior squad under Hansi Flick, Aziz was largely left out of matchday squads.

Barcelona opted not to activate the purchase option in his loan agreement, and Aziz returned to Dreams FC after the contract expired in June.

Despite impressing in first-team training sessions under Hansi-Dieter Flick, Aziz’s time at Barcelona has been underwhelming.

He played only 26 minutes in two matches for Barcelona Atletic, sparking speculation about his development and integration into the team.

Although the club officially confirmed his departure just a few weeks ago, they have reached an agreement to renew the loan of player Aziz for one more season, until June 30, 2026.

This is a perfect opportunity for the Black Satellites forward who was recently handed his debut call-up in the Black Stars to revive his career and keep his European ambitions alive.

Aziz will be hoping for more opportunities as compared to his first stint to showcase his skills and unlock his full potential.

The Ghanaian winger has passed the usual medical evaluations, as his teammates did on Monday, and will join Barça Atlètic training sessions under the guidance of Juliano Belletti.

The Ghanaians will be hoping to help Barcelona Athletic achieve their long-term goal of qualifying for La Liga 2.

With renewed determination, Aziz aims to make a lasting impact and prove his worth in the European football arena.

3news.com