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WAFCON 2026: Algeria beat Morocco on penalties to claim third place
Morocco endured another painful penalty shootout defeat at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Algeria after the third-place play-off ended 1-1 in regulation time.
The hosts had suffered a similar fate in Wednesday’s semi-final, where they were eliminated by Cameroon after missing three consecutive penalties.
Morocco’s penalty woes continued in Rabat against Algeria. The hosts converted their opening two spot-kicks but failed to score from their next three attempts, allowing Algeria to secure victory in the shootout.
The defeat means Morocco finish fourth in the tournament after another disappointing penalty shootout.
Algeria failed to score from two of four penalties, then Ines Belloumou netted to give Algeria bronze.
Kautar Azraf had put Morocco ahead in the 37th minute of regular time and Lina Boussaha equalised on 83 minutes. There was no extra time.
This is the third straight WAFCON hosted by Morocco and they have come up short every time. In 2022 and 2024 they finished runners-up.
The only consolation for the Atlas Lionesses is that reaching the semi-finals guaranteed them a place at the 32-nation Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year.
Cameroon and giant killers Malawi, who meet in the WAFCON final on Sunday, and Algeria have also secured places at the global showpiece.
South Africa and Ghana could swell the number of African representatives to six by qualifying from inter-continental play-offs.
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