Tunisia’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco came to an end on Wednesday evening following a 1-0 defeat to Kenya in the second leg of their first-round qualifier.
A fourth-minute goal from Tereza Engesha proved decisive, sending Kenya through after the first leg in Nairobi ended goalless.
A missed opportunity for Tunisia
Despite entering the match with high expectations after holding Kenya to a draw away from home, Tunisia failed to capitalize on their home advantage.
The game began on a disastrous note for the North African side as Engesha’s early strike put Kenya in front, immediately putting Tunisia under pressure.
The hosts had multiple opportunities to level the score and even take control of the tie, but their finishing let them down at crucial moments.
The most significant setbacks came in the form of two missed penalties, which ultimately sealed their fate.
Two costly penalty misses
Tunisia had the chance to get back into the game just before halftime when they were awarded a penalty.
However, Alaa Kaabachi was denied by an impressive save from the Kenyan goalkeeper, leaving the hosts trailing at the break.
As Tunisia continued pushing for an equalizer in the second half, another golden opportunity arrived in the 77th minute when they were awarded a second penalty.
This time, Sabrine Ellouzi stepped up, but once again, the Kenyan goalkeeper came to her team’s rescue with another crucial save.
Kenya holds firm to secure qualification
Despite Tunisia’s dominance in possession and their relentless search for a goal, Kenya’s defense remained resolute.
The visitors successfully absorbed the pressure and maintained their lead until the final whistle, securing their place in the next round of the qualifiers.
For Tunisia, the defeat marks a major disappointment, as they fail to progress beyond the first round in a tournament they had hoped to be a part of.
The missed penalties will likely haunt the team, as they had the chances to turn the tie around but failed to convert at key moments.
Kenya, on the other hand, will now advance to the second round, keeping their hopes alive of securing a spot at WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
With their strong defensive performance and clinical finishing, the Harambee Starlets will look to build on this victory as they aim for a place in the final tournament.
