08/13/26 02:17:00
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08/13 14:16 CDT Ghana beats Ivory Coast 2-1 at WAFCON to keep Women's World Cup
qualification hopes alive
Ghana beats Ivory Coast 2-1 at WAFCON to keep Women's World Cup qualification
hopes alive
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) --- Ghana came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1
Thursday and earn one of Africa's last two chances to qualify for the Women's
World Cup.
Nigeria was to play South Africa for the other later as the four beaten
quarterfinalists at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations were pitted against each
other to decide which two progress to the World Cup intercontinental playoffs.
The four semifinalists -- Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco and Algeria -- have all
qualified directly for next year's tournament in Brazil. Cameroon and
tournament debutant Malawi will contest the WAFCON final on Sunday.
Ghana got off to a bad start in Casablanca with Princess Marfo penalized for an
apparent foul on Ivorian captain Bernadette Amani in the area in the first
minute.
Ins Konan kept her cool despite a three-minute delay for a VAR check and duly
dispatched the penalty to open the scoring for Ivory Coast.
Ghana thought it had equalized early in the second half when goalkeeper Ocane
Lamfir flapped at a cross and Evelyn Badu squared the loose ball to Stella
Nyamekye, who fired into the unguarded net. The goal was disallowed, however,
after a VAR check deemed Lamfir still had control of the ball.
Princess finally headed in the equalizer before the hour mark, and Josephine
Bonsu got the Black Queens' winner from the penalty spot in the 72nd after Aboa
Yapo was penalized for hand ball -- again after a VAR check -- when Grace
Asantewaa's shot hit her arm.
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