Thomas Dennerby's side will now take on the hosts in the final of the competition after defeating the holders on penalties Nigeria defeated Ghana 4-2 on penalties to reach the 2019 WAFU Women's Cup final after a 0-0 regulation time draw on Thursday. Mercy Tago's ladies made a fine start to the game as Mukarama Abdulai dashed into the area to shoot but Evelyn Nwabouku made a block to divert it behind for a corner. With Ghana failing to capitalise on their early chances in the opening 15 minutes, Nigeria came alive and almost found an opener through Rafait Sule in the 33rd minute. In the second half, both teams missed several scoring chances and neither side could find the back of the net before the end of regulation time. Article continues below It took kicks from the penalty mark to separate both teams as the Super Falcons avenged last edition's semi-final defeat to the Black Queens. For Ghana, it was a disappointment as they failed in their quest to defend the title they won last year. Earlier, Ange Koko N'Guessan and Mariam Diakite were on target as Cote d'Ivoire secured a 2-1 comeback semi-final win over Mali to reach the final. On Saturday, Ghana will take on Mali in the third-place final, before hosts Cote d'Ivoire battle Nigeria for the title.<doc-sep>The African Queens will face their arch rivals Black Queens on Thursday and the gaffer demands improvement from his side Nigeria women coach Thomas Dennerby has urged his side to do everything better against Ghana in their Wafu Women's Cup semi-final at Parc des Sport on Thursday. The Super Falcons will take on the Black Queens in the last four of the competition for the second successive year in Abidjan. Last year, Mercy Tagoe's side denied Nigeria a place in the final but the Swede hopes his outfit can avoid a repeat this time. "We know that Ghana is a good team. We can't play against Ghana as we did against Mali," Dennerby told Goal. "If we play like this against Ghana, then it would be bye-bye to the competition for us. If we really want to remain in the competition, we must do everything better than we did against Mali. "Our defence and attacking game has to be better. We have to come back to our style and follow the match plan. "Against Mali, the players were a little bit lazy and really didn't do what we asked them to before the game and I really do not like how they turned out. So, we really need to step up. "The expectation of this team is very high from the technical staff, and also from fans at home. I don't expect us to win all games but we definitely put more heart into the game than we did against Mali." Second half goals from Rafiat Sule and Uchenna Kanu helped the Super Falcons overcome 10-player Mali on Tuesday. But despite the team's third successive win, Dennerby says he is disappointed in the performance of his side against Les Aiglonnes. Article continues below "I'm not satisfied at all with our performance against Mali. Too many touches of the ball, too soft passes, no pace, no communication, too soft movements, no maximum runnings and the defence was really bad," he continued. "Honestly, I'm very disappointed. If you're not one hundred per cent concentrated and don't use your fighting spirit to win duels against others and do not run enough, you put yourself into trouble and that almost cost us. "They know the big lines but no team wins the game in the meeting room, you have to do it on the field. We were lucky to win because we didn't perform well."<doc-sep>Ahead of Thursday's semi-final tie with the Super Falcons, the Black Queens coach is confident of another win over their rivals Ghana women coach Mercy Tagoe insists her side are determined to advance to the final of the Wafu Women's Cup, ahead of their semi-final against Nigeria. Ghana finished second in Group A after Monday's 0-0 draw with Cote d'Ivoire, and set up a semi-final rematch with the African Queens, who topped Group B. Tagoe guided the Black Queens to victory last year, which included a semi-final triumph over the Super Falcons in Abidjan. Ahead of Thursday's last four clash, the gaffer hopes to replicate her feat and has backed her newly assembled side to upstage Thomas Dennerby's ladies. "This is a new team with only about six of the old players in this tournament," Tagoe told Goal. "I know it will not be easy but the players have done well so far. It's a young team and we are in a rebuilding process. "I have a lot of positive because Ghana is blessed with so many talents. We just need time and proper conditions to groom them. Article continues below "We are going into this match against Nigeria with a lot of determination. We are determined. Nigeria is a familiar side while my team is a new and young but football is full of uncertainties. "Ghanaians are just like Nigerians. They have high expectations. We brought the trophy home last year and they want us to bring it back again. "They won't accept anything less. So, we are going to do our best and put up a good opposition against Nigeria in the semi-final match."<doc-sep>The reigning champions put up a fine show in the second half to pip the Senegalese in their opener on Wednesday Ghana's women's side got off to a perfect start in the Wafu Women's Cup after condemning Senegal to a 2-0 defeat in a Wednesday's Group A encounter. The result means a winning start for the Black Queens as they opened their title defence on a fine note at Stade Robert Champroux. After a scoreless first half in Abidjan, Evelyn Badu broke the deadlock in the 65th minute to put the Mercy Tagoe's ladies ahead. Right at the end of the match, 2018 Fifa U17 Women's World Cup golden boot winner Abdulai Mukarama scored to seal the win for Ghana. However, Janet Egyir, who won the tournament's best player award last year, took the player of the match prize for her good showing. Article continues below Earlier, hosts Cote d'Ivoire defeated Togo 5-0 courtesy of goals from Tokploledo Rolande, Diakite Binta, Cuosso Eperance, Ange N'Guessan and Kouadio Adjouna in the tournament's opener. As it stands, the Ivorians top the Group A log with three-goal advantage over second-placed Ghana, while pointless Senegal and Togo are third and fourth. Ghana will hope to confirm their semi-final place when they face Togo on Friday, while Senegal will face Cote d'Ivoire on the same day.<doc-sep>
Nigeria and Ghana go toe-to-toe in the semi-finals of the WAFU Women’s Cup tournament for the second year running and the Black Queens are the ones truly in awe after watching the African champions ship 22 goals past opponents in three group phase matches in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan. Both teams are in the top drawer of African women football, and last year, the Queens got the better of the Super Falcons to reach the final of the WAFU Cup. However, this year has been a different ball game, with World Cup –bound Nigeria bashing their counterparts from Burkina Faso 5-1 and defeating Mali 2-0, either side of a record 15-0 mauling of the dames from Niger Republic. Both teams avoided each other at the Women Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Ghana towards the end of last year, as the host nation headed Group A and the Cup holders headed Group B. The Black Queens fell by the way side at group stage as the Falcons successfully defended their title. Thursday is a huge opportunity to rekindle the famed Nigeria/Ghana rivalry, at the Stade Robert Champroux, as both teams seek a place in the WAFU Cup final. The Queens are sure to pay the most attention to USA –based student Uchenna Grace Kanu, who has increased her tournament goal haul to nine, after scoring one of the two goals in the defeat of Mali on Tuesday evening. The other semifinal match is between host nation Cote d’Ivoire and Mali.