Algeria defeats Senegal 2-0 in opening match of Women’s Africa Cup

Algeria kicked off their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 with a solid 2-0 win over Senegal on Sunday evening in Rabat.

A penalty from Nguenar Ndiaye in the first half and a late goal by Mélissa Bethi secured the three points for Algeria. The North African team played well and gained an important lead early in the tournament.

Senegal had a bit more possession but Algeria was sharper in front of goal. They forced five saves from Senegal's goalkeeper while limiting Senegal to only two shots on target.

The first goal came in the 13th minute when Senegal got a penalty. Captain Nguenar Ndiaye stepped up and calmly scored from the spot, giving Senegal an early lead.

Algeria reacted well and started to find their rhythm. They showed more attacking play as the first half went on, while still keeping their defense organized.

Even though Senegal went into halftime with a narrow lead, Algeria came back stronger in the second half, putting more pressure on the Senegalese defense.

Bringing in fresh players in the middle of the second half helped Algeria keep up their energy. Senegal also made several changes, hoping to boost their attack.

Algeria's efforts paid off five minutes before the end when Mélissa Bethi scored after receiving a pass from Lina Boussaha. This goal doubled Algeria's lead and made it hard for Senegal to come back.

Senegal pushed hard in the final minutes, but Algeria stayed calm and managed to finish the match without conceding any goals.

This victory gives Algeria a great start in the tournament. They will face the host nation Morocco on Thursday. Senegal will aim to bounce back when they play Kenya on the same day.