Hosts Morocco tightened their hold on top spot in Group A at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Algeria in a tense North African derby on Thursday.
The Atlas Lionesses entered the encounter knowing victory would leave them in a strong position in the race for a place in the knockout stage, but they were forced to dig deep against an organised Algerian side that proved difficult to break down.
Neither team managed to find the back of the net in a closely fought first half, with both defences standing firm despite a handful of promising attacking moments.
Morocco’s persistence finally paid off in the 84th minute when Sanaa Mssoudy struck the decisive goal, sending the home crowd into celebration and sealing a crucial three points for the tournament hosts.
The victory moves Morocco to the summit of Group A with six points from two matches, putting them in a commanding position ahead of their final group fixture.
Algeria, meanwhile, remain on three points alongside Senegal, who earlier claimed a 1-0 win over Kenya to revive their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals.
