Boussaha urges Algeria to cap breakthrough campaign against Morocco

Algeria can secure the first medal in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history when they face hosts Morocco in Saturday’s third-place play-off.

The Vertes have already enjoyed a landmark 2026 tournament by reaching the semi-finals for the first time and qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. However, Lina Boussaha says Algeria want to finish their campaign with a tangible reward.

Speaking at the pre-match news conference, Boussaha underlined the significance of the final fixture in what has already been a defining tournament for the national team.

“It’s simply about making history for the women’s national team, bringing a bronze medal to the people, which would be a very fitting reward for everything we have achieved together over the past three years and a very fine way to end the competition,” said the Algeria international.

Saturday’s match is therefore about considerably more than a conventional third-place play-off. Algeria have never won a medal at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and victory over their north African neighbours would give this generation an achievement that no previous Algeria side has managed.

The Vertes entered the match for third place after suffering a 3-1 defeat by Malawi in the semi-finals. Despite that setback, their progress to the last four and their qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup have already made the tournament historic.

They now face a Morocco side they met earlier in the group stage. The Lionesses of the Atlas won that encounter 1-0 after scoring a late goal.

Morocco will also be looking to recover from a painful semi-final exit. They were eliminated by Cameroon on penalties after the match ended 0-0, leaving them facing the possibility of finishing fourth on home soil.

The hosts have appeared in the previous two continental finals, which adds further pressure to their final match of the tournament. Avoiding fourth place will be a priority for a side that had hoped to compete for the trophy again in front of their own supporters.

For Algeria, however, the occasion offers the chance to end a ground-breaking campaign on an even higher note. Following their World Cup qualification, a bronze medal against Morocco would provide a particularly symbolic conclusion to a tournament that has already established a new foundation for the team.

Boussaha and her team-mates therefore have the opportunity to turn a historic run into a landmark achievement. A win in the derby would not only secure Algeria’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations medal, but would also bring a memorable campaign to a close against one of their closest regional rivals.

Louis Mukoma Fargues