Morocco and Algeria began the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with convincing victories.
The hosts defeated Kenya 4-0, while Algeria earned a 2-0 victory over Senegal. Both teams have three points, are yet to concede and head into their second group match with an opportunity to move closer to the quarter-finals.
Their routes to victory were very different.
Morocco settled their opener with a 13-minute attacking burst. Algeria remained patient, survived Senegal’s strongest spells and struck shortly before half-time and again near the end.
On Thursday, Group A’s most productive attack will meet a team that have not conceded a WAFCON goal since 2018.
Morocco needed 13 minutes
Kenya managed to contain Morocco during the opening stages, but their resistance ended in the 19th minute.
Sakina Ouzraoui opened the scoring, Maryame Atiq added the second nine minutes later and Ibtissam Jraidi made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute. Morocco had settled their opening match in the space of 13 minutes.
Jraidi completed her brace shortly after half-time to seal a victory in which Jorge Vilda’s team had 65% possession and attempted 19 shots, ten of them on target.
The result allowed Morocco to avoid the difficulties that often accompany a host nation’s opening match. It also confirmed their status as one of the leading contenders after reaching the last two finals.
Algeria should present a very different challenge.
Morocco found space with ease after scoring their first goal against Kenya. They now face a team comfortable protecting their penalty area, taking the tempo out of matches and waiting for their opportunity.
Algeria have now gone five matches without conceding
Algeria arrived in Morocco after completing the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations without conceding a goal.
They kept clean sheets in all three group matches and again in the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Ghana in a penalty shootout following another 0-0 draw.
Their victory over Senegal extended that sequence.
Marine Dafeur opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute before Mélissa Bethi capitalised on a Senegalese error in possession to seal the result in the 88th. Between the two goals, Chloé N’Gazi responded whenever Senegal managed to break through Algeria’s defensive structure.
Algeria have now kept five consecutive WAFCON clean sheets and gone 506 minutes without conceding. The last goal they conceded in the competition came during a 3-2 defeat against Mali in 2018.
The difference from the previous edition is their improved attacking output. Algeria scored only once across their four matches in 2024. They struck twice against Senegal and created several more opportunities to extend their advantage.
Beating Morocco would do more than prolong that run: it would take Algeria to six points before their final group match against Kenya.
Their first meeting at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
Morocco and Algeria have never previously met at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.
They will do so with first place in Group A at stake. Morocco currently sit top through their superior goal difference, but the two teams are level on three points.
The winners would move very close to the quarter-finals. A draw would also leave both teams in a favourable position before the final round, when Morocco face Senegal and Algeria meet Kenya.
When and where is Morocco vs Algeria?
Morocco face Algeria at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Thursday, 30 July.
The match kicks off at 21:00 in Morocco and 22:00 in Spain. It will be the second fixture of the day, following Senegal vs Kenya.
Morocco v Algeria
Thursday 30 July · 22:00 in Spain
Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat