Morocco sweep past Kenya to launch Wafcon campaign in style

Morocco began their home Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Kenya, underlining their title credentials in Group A at Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat.

Ibtissam Jraidi struck twice, with Sakina Ouzraoui and Meriem Atiq also on the scoresheet, as the Atlas Lionesses produced a ruthless display that immediately set the standard for the 2026 tournament.

The win moves Morocco top of Group A on goal difference ahead of Algeria, who had earlier beaten Senegal 2-0, giving the hosts early control of a pool they are strongly favoured to win.

“It’s a good start,” said Morocco coach Joge Vilda afterwards. “When you start a tournament like this, it means you’ve had good preparation. I’m satisfied with what I saw from the team today.”

Hosts take control early

Morocco, runners-up in the last two editions of the competition, started with clear intent in front of an expectant home crowd and quickly established dominance in possession and territory.

Kenya, returning to the continental finals for the first time in 10 years, initially sat deep in an attempt to restrict space, but their resistance was broken in the 20th minute. Ouzraoui found room on the edge of the area and drilled a low shot beyond the goalkeeper to open the scoring.

The pressure from the hosts intensified, and eight minutes later Atiq doubled the advantage. Rising highest to meet a corner, she powered a header into the net to leave the Harambee Starlets with an increasingly daunting task.

Morocco continued to press and were rewarded again before half-time. Jraidi, a constant threat in the penalty area, added a third goal with another header as Kenya struggled to cope with the quality of delivery and movement in the box.

That three-goal burst effectively ended the contest before the interval, allowing Vilda’s side to manage the game with greater control in the second half.

Jraidi brace caps statement win

Any hopes of a Kenyan response after the break were quickly extinguished. Barely two minutes into the second period, Jraidi struck again, finishing clinically to register her second of the night and Morocco’s fourth.

Her brace crowned a clinical team performance and reinforced her status as a key figure in a side targeting their first continental crown after back-to-back runners-up finishes.

Kenya, whose long-awaited return to this stage had been a major storyline coming into the tournament, now face an immediate test of character as they look to reignite their campaign in their remaining group fixtures.

Algeria make winning start

Earlier in the day, Algeria opened their Group A campaign with a composed 2-0 win over Senegal, a result that keeps pace with Morocco at the top of the standings.

Marine Dafeur put Algeria ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, before Melissa Bethi struck late on to secure the points. The North Africans delivered a disciplined performance, managing the game well to gain an important early advantage in the race for the knockout rounds.

Morocco will meet Algeria next in what already looks like a significant contest between the group’s early front-runners, while Kenya must regroup quickly before facing Senegal, with both sides needing a positive result to keep their qualification ambitions alive.

Road to the World Cup

This expanded 16-team Women’s Africa Cup of Nations not only crowns the continental champion but also serves as a qualifying pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The four semi-finalists will earn automatic places at the World Cup, while two of the losing quarter-finalists will progress to the inter-confederation play-offs, keeping further qualification hopes alive.

In Group B, Banyana Banyana begin their campaign against Tanzania at Stade Al Medina in Rabat on Monday (18:00 in Morocco, 19:00 SA time), before Ivory Coast face Burkina Faso in the later Group B fixture (22:00 SA time).