WAFCON 2026: Senegal target historic semi-final as Lionesses open campaign against Algeria

Senegal will begin their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Algeria on Sunday with the Lionesses determined to take a significant step towards reaching the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time in their history.

The Group A encounter will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat at 5:00 PM GMT, marking the opening fixture of Senegal’s continental campaign.

With Morocco and Kenya also in the group, the Lionesses know a positive result could provide the perfect foundation for their ambitions in the competition.

After narrowly missing out on a place among Africa’s last four in previous editions, Senegal are entering this year’s tournament with greater confidence and a clear objective.

The team is no longer hiding its desire to progress beyond the quarter-finals, with a semi-final berth viewed as the next milestone.

Senegal chasing a historic breakthrough

The Lionesses have steadily established themselves as one of the continent’s emerging teams and now believe they are capable of reaching new heights.

Having twice come close to advancing further in the competition, Senegal see the 2026 edition as another opportunity to rewrite their history.

A place in the semi-finals has become the team’s stated objective, with the players determined to begin that pursuit with a strong performance against Algeria.

Midfielder Sadigatou Diallo underlined the significance of the tournament ahead of the opening match.

“Know the importance of this competition,” she said during a pre-match press conference.

Her comments reflected the determination within the Senegal squad as preparations for the tournament reached their conclusion.

Strong recent record against Algeria

Although Algeria sit above Senegal in the FIFA rankings, recent meetings between the two sides have favoured the Lionesses.

Senegal have won each of their last three encounters against Algeria, recording victories of 4-0, 3-1 in July 2023 and 3-0 in July 2025.

Those results may provide encouragement, but they do not guarantee success in a major tournament.

Algeria also reached the quarter-finals at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, matching Senegal’s achievement and demonstrating that they remain a competitive side capable of challenging any opponent.

That record serves as a reminder that Sunday’s meeting is expected to be closely contested despite Senegal’s recent dominance in the fixture.

The Lionesses will therefore be aiming to combine confidence with caution as they seek to make a winning start.

Difficult group awaits

The match against Algeria represents only the first stage of what promises to be a demanding group campaign.

Following Sunday’s opener, Senegal will face Kenya on 30 July before concluding the group stage against hosts Morocco on 3 August.

With only three group matches available to secure qualification, every point will carry added importance.

The presence of Morocco, playing on home soil, alongside an ambitious Kenyan side means Senegal cannot afford any slow start if they hope to progress.

For head coach Mame Moussa Cissé and his players, beginning the tournament with victory would strengthen their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.

Eyes firmly on the next step

Senegal arrive in Morocco carrying expectations built on their recent progress in African women’s football.

While previous tournaments ended in quarter-final exits, the squad believes it has the quality to go one step further this time.

The opening match against Algeria therefore represents more than just the start of another AFCON campaign—it is an opportunity to lay the foundations for what the Lionesses hope will become their most successful continental tournament to date.

A positive result in Rabat would not only boost confidence but also reinforce Senegal’s ambition of finally reaching the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals for the first time.