Guinea down Ghana

DEFENDING champions Equatorial Guinea powered into the semifinals of the seventh African Women's Championship with a workmanlike 3-1 victory over an out-of-sorts Ghana at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton yesterday.

Ghana came into the game needing nothing less than a win for a place in the last four.

Cameroon will now face the Super Falcons of Nigeria in Thursday's first semifinal at 10am, with Banyana Banyana facing Equatorial Guinea at 3pm.

Both games will be played at Sinaba Stadium.

Guinea opened the scoring via a penalty by Chinasa Okoro after a foul on Simpore Salimata. Ghana levelled through a penalty of their own after Nke Noah had handled in the danger area and Agnes Aduaku converted.

Guinea then took control with Salimata getting on the end of a great pass from Okoro, who completed her brace minutes later for Guinea to top the group.

In Tembisa, Cameroon qualified after beating winless Algeria 2-1 at Makhulong Stadium, reports Mesh Khotha.

Aboudi Onguene scored a brace, with Algeria replying through Bouhani Benziane.

Local Organising Committee chairperson Nomsa Mahlangu said they wanted to thank South Africans for contributing to the success of the biennial eight-team tournament.

"We are happy that South Africans responded positively to the call by President Jacob Zuma to support Banyana Banyana and the tournament in general.

"We are setting standards for the Confederation of African Football - all the tournaments must be of high quality.

"The Africa Cup of Nations has been a big tournament for CAF, but the women's championship is growing in leaps and bounds," Mahlangu said. - additional reporting by Ramatsiyi Moholoa