Hosts Morocco booked their place in a second successive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final after edging Ghana 4-2 on penalties in a tense semi-final clash that ended 1-1 after extra time in Rabat on Tuesday night.

The Atlas Lionesses held their nerve from the spot, with goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi making a crucial save and two Ghanaian players missing, to seal a place in Saturday’s final against Nigeria.

The defeat means Ghana must now battle South Africa in Friday’s third-place playoff.

In a fiercely contested match at Stade Moulay Abdellah, it was Ghana who struck first through Stella Nyamekye in the 26th minute.

The midfielder pounced on a loose ball inside the box following a corner and fired past Er-Rmichi to give the Black Queens a deserved lead.

The home crowd roared them on and their efforts were rewarded in the 55th minute when Sakina Ouzraoui Diki bundled the ball into the net from close range after sustained pressure and a deflected effort from Ibtissam Jraïdi.

With the deadlock unresolved after 120 minutes, penalties were required to separate the two African powerhouses.

Morocco’s nerve held firm. Hanane Aït El Haj, Ibtissam Jraïdi, Kenza Chapelle, and Anissa Lahmari converted their spot-kicks, while Ghana missed twice—Evelyn Badu firing wide and Comfort Yeboah seeing her effort saved by Er-Rmichi.

The final whistle triggered wild celebrations among the Moroccan players and fans as Jorge Vilda’s team reached the final for the second tournament running.