Ghana have set up a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal with Algeria following a 4-1 victory over Tanzania in their final Group C fixture in Berkane on Monday.
Ghana’s Black Queens will face the Algerians at the same Berkane Stadium on Friday after they finished runners-up in the pool, garnering four points from their three fixtures.
Princella Adubea, Alice Kusi, Evelyn Badu and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah netted for Ghana in what turned out to be a comprehensive victory, while Stumai Athumani scored for the Tanzanians, who bow out of the competition with a single point from their three games.
Ghana led on 12 minutes as Tanzania were punished for sloppy work in trying to play out of defence.
The Ghana press put the Tanzanians into trouble and when goalkeeper Najat Idrisa tried a hurried clearance, she succeeded only in blasting the ball against Black Queens forward Adubea and the ball deflected into the back of the net.
Ghana keeper Cynthia Konlan had to make a smart save from Tanzania striker Aisha Mnunka from a tight angle, before Donisia Minja headed just over the bar from a free-kick.
Ghana were inches away from a second goal when Kusi’s 30-yard shot cannoned back off the crossbar.
But Tanzania levelled five minutes before halftime as a deep free-kick was sent into the Ghana box. The ball was headed to Athumani and her goal-bound shot was deflected into the net by a Ghana defender.
Ghana were awarded a penalty on the hour-mark as Tanzania defender Anastazia Katunzi lunged in on Ghana’s Princess Marfo with a reckless tackle that gave referee Dorsaf Ganouati no option but to point to the spot.
Kusi spot-kick was half saved by Idrisa, but the ball squirmed into the net to give the Black Queens the lead once more.
The tie was still in the balance until Ghana added a third with three minutes remaining as Tanzania could not clear a free-kick into the box and Badu turned the ball home from close range.
There was still time for a fourth for the Black Queens as Tanzania lost their shape in defence and Boye-Hlorkah was given far too much time and space to pick her spot.
It is the first time that Ghana have got out of the group stages as the continental finals since 2016 as they seek to lift the trophy for the first time.