Morocco secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Algeria in a fiercely contested derby in Rabat on Thursday, with Sanaa Mssoudy’s late goal earning the Atlas Lionesses three valuable points at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute, when Mssoudy converted a chance created by Hanane Ait El Haj, who once again played a key role for Morocco. Her finish settled a match in which Algeria’s disciplined defensive structure had frustrated the hosts for long periods.
The result gives Morocco a second consecutive win in Group A. They had opened their campaign with a 4-0 victory over Kenya and will now face Senegal on Monday at 21:00 in a match that will decide which side finishes top of the group.
Mssoudy’s goal brought relief to a Morocco side that had struggled to break through Algeria’s well-organised unit. After the final whistle, the scorer’s first thoughts were directed towards the large crowd inside Moulay Hassan Stadium, where the supporters had backed the hosts throughout the derby.
The midfielder also looked ahead to the decisive meeting with Senegal and stressed the importance of maintaining focus.
« On va le jouer avec beaucoup de serieux. On espere que le peuple marocain sera encore la. »
Morocco’s players acknowledged that the occasion had carried particular significance, with the derby atmosphere adding to the pressure of an already important group fixture.
Sakina Ouzraoui highlighted the special character of the match, while also admitting that the intensity surrounding the occasion had at times affected Morocco’s performance. The team nevertheless managed to regain control of the contest and remained patient until Mssoudy finally found the breakthrough.
Algeria’s compact defensive approach kept Morocco from creating a decisive opening for much of the game, but the hosts continued to search for a way through. Their persistence was eventually rewarded six minutes before the end of normal time.
The victory maintains Morocco’s perfect start to the tournament and leaves them with the opportunity to finish first in Group A when they meet Senegal. The Atlas Lionesses will face a Senegal side that represents their final challenge in the group stage, with top spot at stake.
For Morocco, the win was particularly significant because it came in a derby that demanded patience as well as control. The narrow margin reflected the closely fought nature of the encounter, but Mssoudy’s late strike ensured the hosts completed another important step in their campaign on home soil.
