Hosts Morocco secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Algeria in Rabat on Thursday.
Sanaa Mssoudy scored the winning goal in the 84th minute to seal all three points for the Atlas Lionesses in a tightly contested Group A clash.
Mssoudy Breaks Algeria’s Resistance
Algeria defended strongly for most of the match and frustrated the home side with a disciplined performance.
However, Morocco finally found the breakthrough late in the game.
After Algeria cleared a corner, Morocco quickly recycled the ball into the penalty area. Mssoudy controlled it with her left foot before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi to score the decisive goal.
The 26-year-old FAR Rabat winger kept Morocco’s perfect record intact after two group matches.
Morocco Take Control of Group A
Morocco dominated possession throughout the encounter but struggled to break down Algeria’s organized defense.
Although the hosts created several chances, the Algerians blocked numerous shots and limited clear opportunities.
The narrow score-line reflected the balance between the two sides, who are separated by only 10 places in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Morocco are ranked 64th, while Algeria sit 74th.
Quarter-Final Spot Secured
The victory moved Morocco to six points at the top of Group A and confirmed their place in the quarter-finals.
Algeria and Senegal both have three points, while Kenya remain without a point after two matches.
Morocco will face Senegal in their final group game on Monday. Meanwhile, Algeria will take on Kenya as they aim to secure the second qualification spot.
The 2026 edition is the first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to feature 16 teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
A near-capacity crowd at the 22,000-seat Moulay El Hassan Stadium witnessed the victory, with Morocco men’s national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi and CAF First Vice-President Fouzi Lekjaa among those in attendance.
