Morocco rout Kenya as hosts launch Wafcon bid with commanding win

Morocco underlined their status as early contenders at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a ruthless 4-0 dismantling of Kenya in their opening Group A match in Rabat.

Backed by a fervent home crowd at Stade Moulay El Hassan on Sunday night, the hosts raced into a three-goal lead before half-time, with Ibtissam Jraidi striking twice and Sakina Ouzraoui and Meriem Atiq also on the scoresheet. The result puts Jorge Vilda’s side top of the group on goal difference ahead of Algeria.

“It’s a good start,” said Morocco coach Joge Vilda afterwards. “When you start a tournament like this, it means you’ve had good preparation. I’m satisfied with what I saw from the team today.”

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The Atlas Lionesses, runners-up in the past two editions of the competition, delivered a performance that matched the high expectations around the host nation as they target a first continental crown.

Early dominance from hosts

Morocco took control from the outset, moving the ball with authority and pinning Kenya back for long spells. The Harambee Starlets, returning to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals after a 10-year absence, initially tried to stay compact and absorb pressure but struggled to relieve the siege.

The breakthrough arrived on 20 minutes. Ouzraoui found space on the edge of the area and drove a low shot beyond the goalkeeper to give the hosts a deserved lead and spark loud celebrations in the stands.

Kenya, already under strain, then fell further behind eight minutes later. From a Morocco corner, Atiq climbed above her marker and powered a firm header into the net, doubling the advantage and leaving the East Africans with a rapidly mounting challenge.

Morocco’s intensity did not drop and Jraidi ensured the contest was effectively settled before the interval. The forward met a cross with another decisive header, making it 3-0 as the hosts’ sustained pressure overwhelmed Kenya’s defensive structure.

Jraidi brace seals emphatic result

Any hopes of a Kenyan response after half-time vanished almost immediately. Barely two minutes into the second period, Jraidi struck again, finishing clinically to claim her second of the night and Morocco’s fourth.

Her brace capped a clinical attacking display and reinforced her role as a key figure in a side intent on turning recent near-misses into a historic title triumph. With the game long since decided, Morocco were able to manage the tempo in the closing stages and conserve energy for tougher tests to come.

Kenya, by contrast, endured a chastening return to the continental stage, facing a well-drilled opponent determined to impress on home soil. They will now have to regroup quickly to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout phase alive.

Algeria make winning start

Earlier on Sunday, Algeria had opened Group A with a composed 2-0 victory over Senegal to set up an intriguing early meeting with Morocco.

Marine Dafeur put Algeria ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, before Melissa Bethi added a late second to seal the points. A disciplined defensive display ensured Senegal rarely threatened a comeback, giving the North Africans an important early edge in the battle for quarter-final places.

Morocco now face Algeria in their next fixture, a match that already looks pivotal between the group’s two early pace-setters. Kenya meet Senegal in the other game, with both sides in need of a positive result to revive their qualification prospects.

World Cup places on the line

This expanded 16-team Women’s Africa Cup of Nations carries extra significance, doubling as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The four semi-finalists will secure automatic World Cup places, while two losing quarter-finalists will have a second chance through the inter-confederation play-offs.

Group B gets under way on Monday in Rabat, with Banyana Banyana beginning their campaign against Tanzania at Stade Al Medina (18:00 local time, 19:00 SA time). Ivory Coast then face Burkina Faso in the later Group B encounter (22:00 SA time) as the tournament continues to build momentum.