Highlights from the Opening Matches of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations
The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Rabat, and it delivered thrilling performances from the participating teams. Algeria secured a convincing 2-0 victory against Senegal in the opening match. The Algerian team, known as the Fennecs, showcased their skills early in the game, with Marine Dafeur scoring the first goal from a penalty in the 42nd minute, a well-deserved reward for their strong play in the closing minutes of the first half.
Throughout the second half, the Senegalese Lionnes de la Téranga pushed for an equalizer, opening up the game and creating opportunities on both sides. However, Algeria capitalized on a defensive error, with Melissa Bethi scoring a decisive second goal in the 88th minute, sealing the match for Algeria. In the other match of Group A, Morocco faced Kenya, and the Lionnes de l'Atlas demonstrated their dominance with an impressive 4-0 win, establishing themselves as one of the tournament favorites. The Moroccan players suffocated their opponents throughout the first half, allowing little possession for Kenya. Sakina Ouzraoui set the tone by opening the scoring in the 19th minute, followed by Maryame Atiq, who doubled the lead in the 28th minute. Just four minutes later, Ibtissam Jraidi delivered a crushing blow to the Kenyans with the third goal in the 32nd minute, and she completed a brace shortly after the halftime break, sealing Kenya's fate.
The victorious teams, Algeria and Morocco, will face off on July 30 in what promises to be a thrilling clash in Group A.
As reported by rfi.fr.
