The 12 teams that made it to Morocco to battle their way to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title have now been trimmed down to the final four at the end of week two. Africa’s premier women’s tournament has seen intense on-field action from the start, with hosts Morocco and rising force Zambia joining Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the quarterfinals by the end of week one.

Week two brought more drama, both on and off the pitch, with social media banter and institutional exchanges turning up the heat under this week’s matches. 

Here’s how Week Two of WAFCON 2024 unfolded in Morocco

WAFCON 2024: Week Two on the Pitch

The full list of quarterfinalists was confirmed earlier in the week. Following Morocco and Zambia’s qualification as first and second in Group A, Senegal took the backdoor route from the group into the last eight as one of the best third-placed teams. Algeria joined Nigeria from Group B by finishing second. 

Like Group B, C also produced three quarterfinalists. Defending champions South Africa topped the group, followed by Ghana and Mali, who were tied on four points. The Black Queens advanced as second thanks to a superior goal difference.

The resulting quarterfinal matchups turned out to be the most interesting of the competition so far. Nigeria, who had yet to concede a goal, met a Zambian side boasting arguably the most cohesive attack of the tournament, led by the prolific duo of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji.

The clash, which was a rematch of the 2022 WAFCON third-place playoff where Zambia defeated Nigeria 1–0, came with plenty of pre-game chatter. But when it mattered most, the Super Falcons delivered a performance that underscored their status as Africa’s dominant force, dismantling the Copper Queens 5-0 on Friday evening in Casablanca.

Later that night, Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses joined Nigeria in the semifinals courtesy of a penalty-assisted 3-1 win over Mali. Remarkably, it was the fourth penalty awarded to the hosts in as many games.

Saturday’s quarterfinal matches weren’t as goal-laden as the day’s opener between Ghana and Algeria ended in a goalless draw after extra time. The Black Queens, however, edged their way into the final four with a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout, setting up a semifinal clash with Morocco. Algeria exited the tournament with their heads held high, having gone through the competition without conceding a single goal. The record is now held by Nigeria only going into the semis.

South Africa and Senegal also settled their quarterfinal on penalties after a goalless draw. The defending champions overcame the Teranga Lionesses 4-1 to set up a blockbuster semifinal meeting with Nigeria.. 

WAFCON 2024: Week Two Off the Pitch

Earlier in the week, CAF’s Technical Study Group released the Best XI from the group stage of WAFCON 2024. In a classic 4-3-3 formation, Zambia’s Banda and Kundananji, both with three goals, were joined in attack by Senegal’s Nguenar Ndiaye, who scored four.

In midfield, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade featured alongside Group Stage Best Player Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco and South Africa’s Refiloe Jane. The backline paired South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane with Zambia’s Lushomo Mweemba at the centre, while Nigeria’s Ashleigh Plumptre and Banyana Banyana’s Fikile Magama were named at fullback. Algeria’s Chloé N’Gazi got the nod in goal ahead of Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, despite both goalkeepers finishing the group stage without conceding.

Equally notable was the media buzz surrounding the Nigeria–Zambia quarterfinal clash. Zambia’s camp radiated confidence ahead of the match,  and with good reasons: they had beaten the Super Falcons in their last meeting, matched them on points in the group stage, and Nigeria had looked largely lethargic despite their wins in Morocco.

Zambia had some cause for optimism, and the Super Falcons, for all their pedigree, kept their pre-match comments modest. But the 5-0 result flipped the narrative and ignited a barrage of banter from football fans on social media.  It got even more interesting when CAF weighed in with a post celebrating the Falcons’ victory in Nigeria’s Yoruba language: “won kere si number wa,” loosely translated as “they aren’t our mates” in English.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) took it further by issuing a jab to Zambia in their match review, stating, “The result underscored the fact that Zambia still have much to learn to sit at the top table of African women’s football, and that though the Super Falcons may take things easy sometimes against the opposition, their venom and bite remain as poisonous and deadly as ever.”