Algeria and host Morocco started their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 campaign with resounding wins over Senegal and Kenya, respectively.
Algeria ran away with a 2-0 victory over Senegal in the opening Group A match on Saturday evening in Rabat.
Marine Dafeur’s first-half penalty and a late strike by Mélissa Bethi secured the three points for the North Africans.
Despite efforts to fight back, Senegal fell short of the Algerian resilience at the back.
In a post-match interview, Senegal head coach Mame Moussa Cisse disclosed that the team lost the match due to loose marking and individual errors.
“We gave our opponents too much space. We lost this match because of the individual errors we made. We will analyse what worked, take the necessary lessons from this performance, and shift our focus to the next match. We now have to regroup and make sure we beat Kenya,” he said.
In the other Group A match, hosts Morocco made light work of Kenya, where making their return after 10 years.
The Harambee Starlets were no match for the Atlas Lionesses, who cruised to a convincing 4-0 win as Ibtissam Jraidi scored a brace, while Sakina Ouzraoui and Meriem Atiq were also on target.
The result sent Jorge Vilda’s side to the top of Group A on goal difference ahead of Algeria, who beat Senegal 2-0 earlier in the day.
Vilda attributed the win to good preparations for the tournament.
“It’s a good start. When you start a tournament like this, it means you’ve had good preparation. I’m satisfied with what I saw from the team today,” he said in a post-match interview.
Meanwhile, Kenya head coach Beldine Odemba said the team has two more matches to prove themselves despite starting with a heavy defeat.
“We didn’t have the desired control in the transition phases. We have two matches left against Senegal and Algeria; it’s up to us to correct our mistakes,” she said.
Kenya will face Senegal on Thursday, while Morocco and Algeria will face off in a top-of-the-table clash in Group A.
Action continues today in Group B with South Africa taking on Tanzania while Ivory Coast will face Burkina Faso.
