Sanaa Mssoudy scored in the 84th minute to give Morocco a 1-0 win over Algeria in a heated Women’s Africa Cup of Nations group match in Rabat on Thursday.
Algeria defended well under pressure in this important match between the two north African rivals. They were caught out when they left Mssoudy unmarked.
After clearing a corner at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, the ball came back into the area. Mssoudy controlled it with her left foot and then struck it past goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi with her right foot. This broke the deadlock in a match that looked like it might end without any goals.
Mssoudy, who is 26 and plays for FAR Rabat, is one of many players on the team eager to win this top African women’s football tournament. Morocco hosted the last two WAFCON tournaments and reached the final both times, losing to South Africa in 2022 and Nigeria in 2024 after giving up a two-goal lead.
Before Mssoudy’s goal, Morocco dominated possession. The well-organized Algerian defense blocked many shots, keeping N’Gazi from being seriously tested.
It was not surprising that the match was so close. The teams are only 10 spots apart in the world rankings, with Morocco at 64th and Algeria at 74th.
With this victory, Morocco now has six points after two games in Group A. Both Algeria and Senegal have three points, while Kenya has none.
In the last group matches on Monday, Morocco will play Senegal and Algeria will meet Kenya. Both matches will start at the same time in the evening.
It is likely that Morocco and Algeria will win their matches. If that happens, Morocco will face the Group B runners-up in the quarter-finals, and Algeria will play the Group B winners.
Four groups will send their winners and runners-up to the quarter-finals in this WAFCON, which has 16 teams, up from 12 in the last tournament.
If teams have the same points, the first tie-breaker is their head-to-head records. If those are equal, then goal difference and goals scored will be used.
A large crowd filled the 22,000-seat stadium to watch the match, including Morocco’s men’s coach Mohamed Ouahbi and the Confederation of African Football’s 1st vice-president Fouzi Lekjaa.
In an earlier match at another stadium in Rabat, Senegal defeated Kenya thanks to a goal from Seynabou Mbengue in the 35th minute.
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