Sanaa Mssoudy scored in the 84th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for hosts Morocco over neighbours Algeria at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, according to the match report. The win moved the Atlas Lionesses to six points and kept them top of Group A.
Morocco will guarantee progression to the WAFCON knockout stages if they avoid defeat by Senegal in Rabat on Monday. Algeria can also advance if they beat Kenya in their final group game in the Moroccan capital, while a draw would suffice for the Fennecs only if Senegal fail to take maximum points from Morocco, according to the match report.
Mssoudy tore in behind the Algeria defence to meet a half-volleyed through ball from Hanane Ait El Haj after the visitors failed to clear from a corner. The AS FAR forward controlled with her left and beat goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi with a right-footed finish six minutes from time. It was the first time N’Gazi had been breached in six WAFCON games; Algeria had not conceded at the tournament since 2018, according to the match report.
The contest was an intense, physical North Africa derby with limited goalmouth action. Algeria had some chances, Ines Belloumou testing Khadija Er-Rmichi from distance, while Melissa Bethi provided the clearest threat for the Fennecs. Morocco’s second-half attempts included a volley from Elodie Nakkach that N’Gazi gathered and a header from Mssoudy that was tipped away after meeting a free kick from captain Ghizlane Chebbak, a 70th-minute substitute, according to the match report.
In the earlier game, Senegal beat Kenya 1-0 courtesy of Seynabou Mbengue’s 35th-minute strike. Mbengue finished after being picked out by Ndeye Awa Casset following a penetrating ball over the top from Sokhna Pene. Kenya, who lost 4-0 to Morocco in their opener, showed improvement but remain bottom of the group after the defeat, according to the match report.
