WAFCON 2024 Fallout: West African Dominance in Women’s Football Continues 

By Harry Awurumibe, who was in Morocco

Since the introduction of women’s football in Africa by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1991, the West African countries have dominated the scene with Nigeria, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea leading the charge in the early years while countries like Senegal, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, and others have emerged as strong forces in African football.

Prompt News can authoritatively report that  West African countries once again showed why they still remain the powerhouse of women’s football in the continent following the impressive performances of the four West African countries out of the 12 nations that took part in the just-concluded 13th CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) held in the Kingdom of Morocco from July 5 to 26, 2025.

The biggest women’s football tournament in Africa held in Morocco featured 12 countries, including host Morocco, defending champions South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia,  Botswana, Tanzania, DR Congo and Zambia.

A closer look at the overall performance of all the teams that made it to Morocco showed that all the four West African representatives, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Mali, were very impressive that they made it out of their group at the conclusion of the preliminary stage as they booked their places in the quarter-final stage.

This is even as Nigeria emerged top of Group B after a 3-0 defeat of Tunisia; 1-0 victory over  Botswana and 0-0 draw with Algeria to garner seven points to qualify for the quarter-final stage while Senegal navigated the difficult Group A comprising host Morocco, Zambia and DR Congo to still make it to the quarter-final by qualifying as one of the third best finishers.

Ghana and Mali fought their ways through to the last eight teams in Group C, where they had to contend with the then defending champions, South Africa, and East African  representatives Tanzania. Mali qualified for the quarter-final as the second best finisher after the group stage.

Interestingly, two West African countries, Ngeria and Ghana, made it to the last four after Nigeria thrashed Zambia 5-0 in the quarter-final while Ghana edged Algeria 4-2 on penalties after regulation time ended without a winner.

Unfortunately, Senegal’s impressive journey ended in the quarter-final stage as  the West Africans lost to

South Africa 4-1 on penalties after both played out 0-0 in the regulation time While Mali was eliminated by host Morocco after a 3-1 defeat in the quarter-final stage.

Not done yet, Nigeria and Ghana stayed in the competition till the end after Nigeria eliminated South Africa 2-1 after a hard fought battle in the second semi-final clash at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on July 22, 2025 to qualify for the epic final against Morocco while the host Morocco overpowered Ghana 4-2 via penalty shootout after a 1-1  draw in regulation time.

But in the 3rd place match, Ghana bounced back to defeat South Africa 4-3 on penalties after scoreline remained 1-1 at full time at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca Friday, July 25, 2025 thus Ghana picked the Bronze medal while Nigeria beat Morocco 3-2 in a dramatic come back victory over the host country at fans packed-Olympique de Rabat on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

However, after three weeks of football hostilities in Morocco, Nigeria and Ghana, returned to the bank of the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa with two out of three top prizes of Gold and Bronze medals leaving the Silver medal to the North African country Morocco while countries from other regions in Africa went back  home  empty-handed.

It can be said that Nigeria and Ghana’s impressive performance in WAFCON 2024 clearly shows that the

dominance of West African countries in women’s football in Africa is not showing any signs of fading away anytime soon, and if the leadership of the sub-regional football governing body West African Football Union (WAFU), knows what to do,  the region will continue to dominate the continent in the next decade.

But if WAFU hierarchy decides to sleep on the bicycle, as we say in our local parlance, then the North African countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt or highly-improved Southern Africa nations Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, and Nambia as well as the teams from East African sub-regions will quickly overtake West African nations in women’s football development.

*How West African Teams Fared in Morocco*:

*Finalists*: *Nigeria* and Morocco

*3rd Place*: *Ghana* and South Africa

*Semi-finalists:  *Nigeria*, Morocco, *Ghana*, and South Africa

*Last 8*: Nigeria, Ghana,  Mali and Senegal *(West Africa)*; Morocco and Algeria (N/Africa), and S/Africa and Zambia (Southern Africa)

*Qualified 12 Teams*:

*West Africa (4)* Nigeria, Ghana,  Mali, and Senegal

North Africa (3) Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia

Southern Africa (3) Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia

Others (2) Tanzania and DR Congo