Algeria made a winning start to their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Senegal in the opening Group A match in Rabat on Saturday.
The North Africans secured all three points through a first-half penalty from Senegal captain Nguenar Ndiaye and a late goal from Mélissa Bethi, giving Algeria an early advantage in their bid to reach the knockout stages.
Algeria produced a disciplined and efficient performance, particularly in front of goal, despite Senegal having slightly more possession during the match. The winners also did a better job of creating clear opportunities, forcing five saves while limiting Senegal to only two efforts on target.
Senegal were given the opportunity to take control of the contest in the 13th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Ndiaye stepped forward and converted calmly from the spot, giving her side the lead early in the match.
Algeria, however, did not allow the setback to disrupt their approach. They gradually grew into the game and became more adventurous in attack as the first half progressed. At the same time, they maintained their defensive organisation to prevent Senegal from creating further clear openings.
Senegal went into the half-time interval with their narrow advantage intact, but Algeria returned for the second half with greater purpose.
The North Africans increased the pressure on Senegal’s defence after the restart and began to create more problems for their opponents. Algeria’s decision to introduce fresh players during the second half helped them sustain their intensity, while Senegal also made a number of substitutions as they attempted to find a way to improve their attacking threat.
Algeria’s increased pressure eventually produced the decisive moment of the match five minutes before full-time.
Mélissa Bethi was found by Lina Boussaha and made no mistake with the opportunity, finishing confidently to double Algeria’s lead. The goal effectively settled the contest and left Senegal with a difficult task in the closing stages.
Senegal responded by pushing forward in search of a way back into the game, but Algeria remained calm and organised. The North Africans successfully protected their two-goal advantage until the final whistle and completed the match with a clean sheet.
The result represents an ideal beginning to Algeria’s campaign and puts them in a strong position after the first round of Group A matches. Their next assignment will be a highly anticipated meeting with tournament hosts Morocco on Thursday.
For Senegal, the defeat means they will need to respond quickly in their second group fixture. They face Kenya on Thursday, with the match providing an opportunity to recover from their opening-day loss and revive their hopes of progressing from Group A.
Algeria’s victory was built on a combination of defensive discipline and attacking efficiency. Although Senegal had marginally more of the ball, Algeria made better use of their opportunities and restricted their opponents to limited efforts on target.
The late goal from Bethi ensured there would be no nervous finish for Algeria, while their clean sheet completed a convincing opening performance.
With three points secured and confidence boosted, Algeria will now turn their attention to Morocco, knowing another strong result could further strengthen their position in the group. Senegal, meanwhile, must focus on Kenya as they look to put their disappointing opening result behind them and get their campaign back on track.
