Algeria came back from a goal down to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 in a thrilling quarter-final match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca on Saturday. With this win, Algeria secured a spot in the semi-finals.
Ivory Coast started strong and took the lead in the 29th minute when Inès Konan scored for the Elephants. They looked set to continue their dominance until things changed dramatically.
In the 42nd minute, N. Ouédraogo was sent off, leaving Ivory Coast with just 10 players for the rest of the game. This red card allowed Algeria to take control after the break.
Substitute I. Khiri, who came on at half-time, scored the equaliser for Algeria in the 59th minute. Following that, Ivory Coast had a chance to take back the lead, but R. Elloh missed a penalty in the 62nd minute.
Algeria quickly capitalised on this mistake. A. Braham scored in the 64th minute after a nice setup from M. Dafeur, putting the Fennecs ahead. Ivory Coast tried hard to find an equaliser, but Algeria held firm and won the match.
This victory highlights Algeria’s strong performance in the tournament. For Ivory Coast, their journey ended here, marking their first WAFCON appearance since 2014.
Ivory Coast had finished top of Group B, showcasing a good return to the competition with wins over Burkina Faso and Tanzania. Their quarter-final spot was a major achievement for a team that had missed the last three tournaments.
Now, Algeria sets its sights on the semi-finals as they aim for their first WAFCON title.
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