Algeria make history after battling past Cote d'Ivoire to secure first-ever WAFCON semi

In an opening phase of the match that clearly favoured Côte d’Ivoire, Safi Ouedraogo was the first to spark the action with a run into the box. She appealed for a penalty after being held back inside the area, but the referee waved play on.

Then it was Ines Konan’s turn to take issue with the referee, appealing for a penalty after a turn-and-shoot attempt which she claimed was deflected by the hand of an Algerian defender – to no avail in the seventh minute.

But it was ultimately Anastasie Gbehi, the Ivorian defender, who received the first booking of the match for a crude foul right in front of the referee. The Algerian free-kick, taken from too far out, came to nothing early on.

Soon after, Ouedraogo was once again found in space between the lines following a through ball from Konan, but she was a few centimetres short of connecting with it and was beaten to the ball by Chloe N'Gazi, who came off her line well. Morgane Ikene, meanwhile, was carried off on a stretcher in tears following a challenge on her right wing, having clearly injured her ankle. 

She was replaced by Morgane Belkhiter. Cote d’Ivoire thought they had opened the scoring after a phenomenal run by Ouedraogo, who, set up by Rebecca Elloh on the left wing, left each Algerian defender in her wake one by one before cutting inside onto the left wing and finishing by dribbling past the goalkeeper at the near post. But she was ultimately ruled offside.

Following a missed attempt by Konan, it was Sery Grace Ruth’s turn to have a go at a loose ball in the box, which she struck powerfully towards the far post. N’Gazi made the save (28th minute).

Cote d’Ivoire finally opened the scoring after another foray by Ouedraogo into the box, who jostled Belkhiter with her shoulder before firing a powerful cross. N’Gazi parried the shot, but Konan was on hand to slot home at the far post, knocking over Inès Belloumou, who dived in at the last moment.

The referee initially ruled that the former Strasbourg striker had fouled a West Ham defender, but awarded the goal following a VAR review, as Konan had reached the ball before the former Montpellier player - 1-0 (30').

It was Ouedraogo again who broke through deep into the box and won a good corner, forcing another save from N’Gazi eight minutes before the break. But the 18-year-old was shown a red card after kicking N’Gazi in the face whilst attempting to win the ball on the edge of the box. She left her team down to 10 players as early as the 40th minute.

Algeria regained their momentum with a one-player advantage and saw Lina Boussaha create a huge chance after a pass from Marine Dafeur, who juggled the ball in the box before setting her up, but the shot was blocked. 

A five-minute comeback for Algeria

After the break, Algeria came out with renewed vigour. Lynda Bendris was brought down in the box, but the referee deemed it too minor - no penalty. On the left, Elloh managed to break through before being tackled. Her shot was narrowly blocked by Khezami (49th). 

Then Côte d’Ivoire in turn appealed for a penalty for a foul on Elloh in the box, but she was flagged offside at the start of the move (54th). Bendris, once again, comes up against Aramatou Diakite, who parries poorly but is covered by her defence to clear the danger (57th).

Algeria’s next attempt proved successful: having come on at half-time, Ines Khiri brought the Greens level with an exceptional cross-shot from the right flank, which flew under the crossbar past the beaten Diakite, 1-1 (59').

Immediately afterwards, the Elephants launched a counter-attack and came very close to regaining the lead following a cross aimed at Konan at the far post.

Belkhiter cleared the ball, but it fell to Akebie Abrogoua, who was fouled by Roselene Khezami: the referee immediately pointed to the spot. From the penalty spot, Elloh stepped up and curled her shot… too far!

It struck only the post of N’Gazi, who had dived the right way. 

The celebrations continued for Algeria - following Diakite’s costly error on her line moments earlier, Amira Ould Braham decided to take her chance on the edge of the box with a floated shot that bounced in front of the Ivorian goalkeeper and found the back of the net to make it 2-1. 

Côte d’Ivoire weren't giving up just yet, though: Elloh continued to cause problems between the Algerian lines, played in by a lofted ball from Sery. And it was Sery again who broke through deep before being caught out as Cote d'Ivoire looked for a way back into the tie.

Algeria had the chance to make it 3-1 following a run by Dafeur, but this time Diakité made a superb save, coming well off her line to avert the danger 11 minutes from time. From a floated cross from the right, Ami Diallo had another chance to equalise, with a header across goal that went wide of the Algerian posts soon after. 

The pressure mounted on N’Gazi, who was called into action again following a shot by Priscille Kreto inside the box (84th). Melissa Bethi tried her luck from the edge of the box, but failed to hit the target (90+1). Côte d’Ivoire pushed hard in the closing stages and even appealed for a penalty following a foul on Diallo in the box, but ultimately lost the match.

This 2–1 victory over Cote d’Ivoire will go down in Algerian history as the very first time the Greens have qualified for a semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as for a World Cup, as the semi-finalists of the Africa Cup of Nations automatically qualify for the tournament to be held in Brazil in 2027.

Farid Benstiti’s players will face the winner of Sunday’s semi-final between Malawi and Ghana, with a place in the final of this latest edition in Morocco at stake.

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