Algeria defeat Morocco on penalties to claim historic WAFCON bronze
Algeria secured their first-ever WAFCON podium finish by defeating hosts Morocco 3-2 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) third-place play-off at the Rabat Olympic Stadium on Saturday, August 15, 2026, reached a chaotic climax in the 95th minute. With regulation time virtually elapsed, Morocco were awarded a penalty that offered a golden chance to secure victory on home soil. Nouhaila Benzina stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to strike the post. The missed opportunity immediately carried the contest into a decisive penalty shootout, mirroring the recurring spot-kick vulnerabilities that had already plagued the Atlas Lionesses earlier in the tournament.
That stoppage-time reprieve crowned the best campaign in Algeria's history according to Tribal Football, securing a 3-2 victory in the shootout following a 1-1 draw. The result earned the Greens their first-ever podium finish at the continental tournament reported New Telegraph, capping a successful run that also featured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
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For large stretches of the match, Morocco dictated the rhythm and controlled possession noted beIN Sports. Early defensive scrambles kept Algeria afloat, with Lana Smits recovering after a miscued headed back-pass and Chloe N'Gazi forced into early interventions under pressure from Ibtissam Jraidi detailed Tribal Football. The hosts broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Sakina Ouzraoui delivered a cross that initiated the breakthrough. Kautar Azraf, an 18-year-old forward developed at La Masia and playing for Barcelona's reserves, created space with a sharp cut inside the penalty area and finished past Ines Belloumou to put Morocco 1-0 ahead according to beIN Sports and Tribal Football.
Morocco thought they had doubled their advantage immediately after the restart when Maryame Atiq headed in a 47th-minute cross from Hanane Ait El Haj. However, a VAR review detected a foul by the Moroccan player on Amira Ould-Braham, and the goal was disallowed noted beIN Sports and Tribal Football. Algeria weathered a scrappy second half and struggled to test goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi until late in the match. The breakthrough arrived in the 83rd minute when Sofia Bekhaled unlocked the Algerian attack with a deep pass that sent Lina Boussaha clean through. Boussaha kept her composure in a one-on-one duel with Errmichi, poking the ball home to equalize at 1-1 reported beIN Sports and Tribal Football.
With no extra time contested in the third-place play-off, the match proceeded directly to penalties noted New Telegraph. The shootout immediately revived memories of Morocco's semi-final elimination against Cameroon, where the Atlas Lionesses missed three consecutive spot-kicks reported Yahoo Sports. Marine Dafeur opened the scoring for Algeria, while Morocco's Zineb Redouani had her opening attempt saved by N'Gazi stated beIN Sports and Tribal Football. Although Élodie Nakkach and Rania Boutiebi successfully converted for the hosts, Morocco missed their final three attempts according to New Telegraph and Yahoo Sports. After Amira Ould-Braham and Roselene Khezami failed to score for Algeria, Ines Belloumou stepped up, sent Errmichi the wrong way, and put the pressure back on the hosts noted Tribal Football.
Ibtissam Jraidi took Morocco's final penalty attempt and struck the crossbar, sealing a 3-2 shootout victory that clinched the bronze medal for Algeria detailed Tribal Football.
Tournament Context and Historical Implications
The dramatic bronze-medal encounter at the Rabat Olympic Stadium compounded a difficult finish for the Atlas Lionesses, who entered the competition aiming to capture the continental crown after ending as runners-up at the previous two WAFCON tournaments staged on home soil in 2022 and 2024, according to Yahoo Sports. Instead, as New Telegraph notes, the hosts had to settle for fourth place. For Algeria, however, the podium finish represents a landmark achievement in their tournament history, surpassing previous runs that had never extended beyond the quarter-finals, as detailed by Tribal Football.
Beyond the immediate continental medals, the tournament served as a crucial qualifying pathway for the global stage. Both Algeria and Morocco secured qualification for the upcoming 32-team Women's World Cup in Brazil, joining fellow semi-finalists Cameroon and Malawi, with Yahoo Sports further reporting that Africa could ultimately field as many as six representatives depending on inter-continental play-off results for South Africa and Ghana.
| Team | Player | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Marine Dafeur | Scored |
| Morocco | Zineb Redouani | Saved |
| Algeria | Amira Ould-Braham | Missed |
| Morocco | Élodie Nakkach | Scored |
| Algeria | Sofia Bekhaled | Scored |
| Morocco | Rania Boutiebi | Scored |
| Algeria | Roselene Khezami | Saved |
| Morocco | Sakina Ouzraoui | Saved |
| Algeria | Ines Belloumou | Scored |
| Morocco | Ibtissam Jraidi | Hit crossbar |
The spot-kick sequence mirrored the vulnerabilities that surfaced during Morocco's semi-final elimination against Cameroon, where the team similarly missed three consecutive penalties, as reported by Yahoo Sports. With the continental tournament concluded, the next step for the qualified sides involves turning their focus toward preparations for the global tournament in Brazil.
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