RABAT — Sanaa Mssoudy scored after 84 minutes to give hosts Morocco a 1-0 victory over Algeria in a tense Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) group match in Rabat.
After defending superbly under constant pressure in the top-of-the-table clash between North African neighbours, Algeria was punished for leaving the Moroccan winger unmarked.
Algeria cleared a corner at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in the Moroccan capital, but when the ball was returned into the goalmouth, Mssoudy struck.
She controlled the ball with her left foot, and then stabbed it past goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi with her other foot to break the deadlock in a match that had seemed destined to end goalless, AFP reported.
Mssoudy, a 26-year-old from African club champions FAR Rabat, is one of several players in the team desperate to win the showpiece of African women’s football.
Also hosts of the last two WAFCON tournaments, Morocco reached the final each time only to lose against South Africa in 2022 and Nigeria in 2024, when they surrendered a two-goal lead.
In an earlier match at another Rabat stadium, Senegal beat Kenya thanks to a Seynabou Mbengue goal on 35 minutes.
