Rabat – Morocco defeated Algeria 1-0 on Thursday in their Group A clash at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with Sanaa Massoudi scoring the decisive goal in the 77th minute to hand the Atlas Lionesses a crucial victory and three valuable points in their quest for a place in the knockout stage.
The North African derby remained goalless for more than an hour as both sides battled for control in a tense and closely contested encounter. Morocco enjoyed the better chances throughout the match but struggled to break down Algeria’s resilient defense.
The breakthrough finally came in the 77th minute when Massoudi found the back of the net, sending the home fans into celebration and giving Jorge Vilda’s side the lead.
Morocco held firm during the closing stages to preserve its narrow advantage and secure all three points. The win strengthens the Atlas Lionesses’ position in Group A and boosts their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals as they continue their campaign on home soil.
The Atlas Lionesses will now shift their focus to their next group-stage match against Senegal, looking to build on the momentum from an important derby victory.
