The opening round of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations wrapped up on Monday night with goals, grit and plenty of early intrigue across six group-stage fixtures.
Twelve national teams are in contention for continental supremacy in Morocco, and after the first round of matches, 15 goals have been scored across the competition.
While referees have shown several yellow cards, no player has yet received a red—an encouraging sign for the level of discipline on display.
In Group A, host nation Morocco narrowly escaped a defeat in their opener, playing out a tense 2-2 draw against Zambia.
The Atlas Lionesses had hoped for a winning start in front of their home fans but were forced to share the spoils after a lively encounter.
Meanwhile, defending champions South Africa began their title defence in commanding fashion.
Banyana Banyana dispatched Ghana 2-0, with a confident and composed performance that underlined their ambitions of retaining the crown they lifted in 2022.
Nigeria, Africa’s most decorated women’s national team, delivered a ruthless statement of intent.
The Super Falcons swept aside Tunisia with a clinical 3-0 win, showcasing their depth and experience as tournament favourites.
Senegal recorded the most emphatic result of the round, thrashing the Democratic Republic of Congo 4-0 in a one-sided affair that sent the Lionesses of Teranga to the top of their group and issued a stark warning to future opponents.
Elsewhere, Algeria earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Botswana, securing three vital points in a match defined by tight margins and moments of resilience.
Mali mirrored that scoreline with a 1-0 win against Tanzania, relying on a solid defensive structure and opportunistic finishing.
Matchday 1 results:
- Morocco 2–2 Zambia
- Senegal 4–0 DR Congo
- Nigeria 3–0 Tunisia
- Algeria 1–0 Botswana
- South Africa 2–0 Ghana
- Mali 1–0 Tanzania
With the tournament now firmly underway, teams will regroup before returning to action on Wednesday, following a scheduled rest day.
The coming fixtures promise even more intensity as sides look to strengthen their positions and edge closer to the knockout stage.
