Algeria Beat Senegal 2-0 in WAFCON Opener After Controversial Penalty and Late Goalkeeper Error

Algeria began their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Senegal in Sunday’s Group A opener at Rabat, capitalising on a late goalkeeping blunder and a first-half penalty to secure all three points.

Captain Marine Dafeur converted a 42nd-minute penalty to give Algeria the lead, and substitute Melissa Bethi sealed the win with an 88th-minute strike after Senegal goalkeeper Khady Faye’s weak clearance was intercepted. The penalty decision was debatable, with minimal contact between Senegal captain Korka Fall and Amira Braham, but a Video Assistant Referee review backed the South African referee’s call before Dafeur fired a left-foot shot into the right corner.

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Senegal created early pressure but failed to seriously threaten, as Algeria gradually took control with neat passing to achieve a deserved victory. The North Africans began the match as slight favourites, ranked one place above Senegal in Africa and five places higher in the world. Algeria’s Lana Smits appeared to commit a similar penalty-area foul on Tall Pene just before the hour mark, but play continued. Any hopes Senegal had of snatching a draw disappeared when Faye’s weak clearance was intercepted and a quick pass set up Bethi to score with a low shot.

Record 10-time champions Nigeria will begin their campaign on Tuesday in Group C against Malawi, who boast star forwards in the Chawinga sisters, with Tabitha playing for Lyon and Temwa for Kansas City Current. Morocco, hosts and runners-up in the last two editions, faced Kenya later on Sunday in the other Group A match.

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