Morocco’s women’s national team defeated Algeria 1-0 in Rabat on July 30, 2026, moving to six points and sole first place in Group A of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Sanaa Mssoudy scored the only goal in the 86th minute at Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan.
What Was the Final Score Between Morocco and Algeria?
Morocco won 1-0, with substitute forward Sanaa Mssoudy netting a decisive late goal after controlling the ball and firing a low shot past the Algerian defense. Under head coach and captain Ghizlane Chebbak’s leadership, the Atlas Lionesses outshot Algeria 11-3, with an expected-goals (xG) tally of 0.75 compared to Algeria’s 0.07, reflecting their dominance in the North African derby.
Where Do Teams Stand in Group A?
Following two rounds of the tournament, hosted by Morocco, the standings show a clear gap opening up at the top of Group A.
Morocco’s tally includes an opening 4-0 rout of Kenya, powered by a brace from Ibtissam Jraidi plus goals from Sakina Ouzraoui and Maryame Atiq, before Thursday’s win over Algeria. Algeria sits second on three points after beating Senegal 2-0 in round one, but the Algeria-Morocco loss leaves them level with Senegal, who beat Kenya 1-0 on the same matchday.
Context and Background
The Morocco-Algeria clash carried extra weight because both sides entered on three points each, making it effectively a battle for group supremacy in the tournament being staged across host cities including Rabat. Morocco’s world ranking of 64th, just ten places above Algeria’s 74th, underlines how tightly matched the two North African rivals are on paper. This derby result also builds on Morocco’s recent WAFCON pedigree, having reached the 2024 final on home soil, reinforcing their status as tournament favorites this year.
Reactions and Impact
CAF’s own tournament coverage described the match as “tense,” highlighting how Mssoudy’s strike settled a contest defined by defensive resilience on both sides until the closing stages. beIN Sports similarly framed the win as putting “the hosts in control of Group A and within touching distance of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals”. Algerian outlets noted their side’s defensive setup limited Morocco’s chances for long stretches before the late breakthrough, a testament to Algeria’s own three-point haul from the Senegal win still keeping them in qualification contention.
What Comes Next?
Group A concludes on matchday three, with Morocco facing Senegal and Algeria taking on Kenya in simultaneous kickoffs, results that will determine which two teams advance to the WAFCON 2026 quarterfinals. A win or draw for Morocco against Senegal would all but confirm top spot, while Algeria needs a positive result against Kenya combined with events elsewhere to overtake Senegal on points or goal difference.
For readers tracking the tournament, our WAFCON 2026 hub page offers continuously updated fixtures, results, and qualification scenarios for all four groups. Related coverage on Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses squad profile and Sanaa Mssoudy’s rise this tournament are also recommended as internal links within this piece.
