Cote d’Ivoire target first Women’s AFCON semi-final in 12 years against Algeria

Cote d’Ivoire manager Reynald Pedros has urged his side to produce a complete performance from the opening whistle to the final moments if they are to overcome Algeria in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The two teams meet on Saturday at Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca, Morocco, in the first last-eight match of the tournament.

Pedros regards Algeria as the strongest collective at the competition and knows Cote d’Ivoire will need to maintain their concentration throughout the contest. The Elephantes topped their group in the opening phase without losing a match, but their results also showed how quickly a promising position can change.

Cote d’Ivoire began their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso before drawing 2-2 with South Africa. They then defeated Tanzania 2-1 to finish first in the group.

Several players have played a particularly prominent role in that run. Ines Konan has scored three goals, while Grace-Ruth Sery and Nsira Ouedraogo have each found the net twice.

Sery was especially influential in the match against South Africa. Cote d’Ivoire established a 2-0 lead by the 36th minute, with Sery scoring both goals, and appeared to be in control against the Banyana Banyana, who finished fourth at the previous edition of the competition.

However, Cote d’Ivoire were unable to protect their advantage during the closing stages. South Africa pulled a goal back in the 71st minute before completing the comeback with an equaliser in the ninth minute of added time.

That late collapse will serve as a warning before the meeting with Algeria, who Pedros considers the best team in the tournament. His message to the players has been clear: they must deliver an accomplished display across the entire match rather than rely on a strong opening spell.

For Cote d’Ivoire, the stakes are significant. Victory would take them into the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2014.

Their previous appearance at that stage came under a different competition format. In 2014, the tournament featured eight teams, meaning Cote d’Ivoire reached the semi-finals directly after progressing from the group phase. This year’s edition has expanded to 16 teams, making the route to the last four longer and requiring success in a quarter-final.

Bernadette Kakounan and her team-mates will therefore need to combine the attacking quality that helped them score eight goals in the group stage with the defensive discipline that was missing during the final half-hour against South Africa.

Algeria stand between Cote d’Ivoire and a place in the semi-finals, but Pedros’ side enter the tie unbeaten and as group winners. A repeat of their best moments in the opening round, allied to a more consistent performance until the final whistle, would give the Elephantes a chance to continue their run in Morocco.