Algeria and Senegal will write a new chapter in Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history when they meet for the first time in the competition in their Group A opener at the Rabat Olympic Stadium on Sunday.

The encounter, which kicks off at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT), marks the first-ever WAFCON meeting between the two nations as they begin their quest for a place in the knockout stages of the Morocco 2026 tournament.

Although their women’s teams have never crossed paths at the continental finals, there is history between the countries through the men’s game. Their most memorable Africa Cup of Nations meeting came in the 2019 AFCON final in Cairo, where Algeria edged Senegal 1-0 thanks to Baghdad Bounedjah’s early strike to lift the continental crown.

For Algeria, Sunday’s clash presents another test against West African opposition, a category of opponents they have found difficult over the years. The North Africans have faced West African teams eight times at WAFCON, recording two victories, one draw and five defeats.

Both of Algeria’s victories came in the group stage. They defeated Mali 3-0 in 2004 before overcoming Ghana 1-0 in their opening match of the 2014 tournament. However, they have also suffered opening-match defeats to West African rivals, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in 2004 and falling to Ghana in both the 2010 and 2018 editions.

Senegal, meanwhile, will be looking to break new ground against North African opposition. The Lionesses have yet to score a goal against teams from the region in three previous meetings.

Their record includes back-to-back 1-0 defeats to hosts Morocco in the group stages of the 2022 and 2024 tournaments, while they also played out a goalless draw with Tunisia in a 2022 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying repechage before advancing on penalties to the intercontinental play-offs.

The West Africans are also familiar with challenging regional rivals, having previously faced Nigeria and Ghana three times each and Mali twice at the continental finals.

With both sides eager to make a positive start to their Group A campaign, Sunday’s historic first WAFCON meeting promises to offer an early indication of their ambitions in Morocco 2026.

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Senegal will begin their campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), aiming to extend an impressive record of opening-match victories while seeking to move beyond the quarter-final stage for the first time in their history.

The Lionesses of Teranga are making their fourth appearance at the continental finals and their third in succession, having established themselves as one of Africa’s emerging forces in women’s football.

After making their tournament debut in 2012, Senegal have reached the knockout stage in each of their last two appearances, although both campaigns ended in heartbreaking penalty shootout defeats in the quarter-finals.

Their maiden appearance in Equatorial Guinea in 2012 proved difficult, with the West Africans losing all three group matches, including a 1-0 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in their tournament opener.

A decade later, however, Senegal announced their arrival with a 2-0 victory over Uganda in their opening match of the 2022 finals, registering both their first-ever WAFCON win and their first clean sheet at the competition.

They maintained that momentum by defeating Burkina Faso before eventually bowing out to Zambia on penalties in the quarter-finals after losing to Morocco in the group stage.

At the 2024 edition, Senegal once again made a flying start, thrashing DR Congo 4-0 in their opening fixture. However, successive defeats to Zambia and hosts Morocco were followed by a goalless quarter-final draw with South Africa, where they again exited on penalties.

The pattern means Senegal are seeking a third consecutive opening-match victory at the finals, with all three of their previous opening games producing victories for one side without conceding a goal.

Despite their encouraging starts, Mame Moussa Cissé’s side arrive at the tournament on a three-match winless streak, recording one draw and two defeats in their closing matches of the previous edition.

Interestingly, Senegal have never endured a run of four matches without a victory at the WAFCON finals, providing added motivation as they begin another campaign.

Their attacking hopes will once again rest heavily on Nguenar Ndiaye, Senegal’s leading scorer in the competition with five goals across the last two tournaments.

Ndiaye was one of the stars of the 2024 edition, netting four goals—the highest tally by a Senegalese player at a single WAFCON—and became the first player from her country to score in successive matches at the finals after finding the net in the opening two games.

Senegal’s six goals at the 2024 tournament also represented their highest scoring return in a single edition, while they recorded three clean sheets in four matches, another national best at the competition.

Defensively, the Lionesses have shown remarkable improvement, keeping three clean sheets in their last four WAFCON matches after managing just one shutout in their first seven tournament games.

Their road to Morocco once again demonstrated their resilience. Senegal edged Côte d’Ivoire in the qualifiers after both legs finished goalless before triumphing 5-4 in a penalty shootout away from home.

The team will once again be guided by head coach Mame Moussa Cissé, who has been in charge since 2019 and is leading Senegal to a third consecutive WAFCON final.

Having established themselves as consistent quarter-finalists, Senegal’s next challenge is to finally break through that barrier and mount a serious bid for a place among Africa’s elite in the latter stages of the competition.

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As anticipation builds ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, history is set to be written in golden letters.

From the pursuit of longevity for icons like Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné, the Nigerians’ unquenchable hunger for titles and efficiency records fuelled by the exciting expansion to 16 nations, here is an overview of the legendary records that could be shattered during this historic 14^th edition.

Record Participation

Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné – 8 WAFCONs

The Larbi Zaouli Stadium will host a major event this Wednesday, July 29, with the match between Cameroon and Mali. Beyond the search for three points, the spotlight will be on the captain of the Indomitable Lionesses – Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné. If she steps onto the pitch, the Cameroonian international will write African Football history by participating in her eighth WAFCON finals – surpassing Nigeria’s Ebi Onome and her seven appearances.

Most decorated players

Francisca Ordega & Osinachi Ohale

Already holding the record for most titles with five, Nigerians Francisca Ordega and Osinachi Ohale (pictured) are aiming for a sixth with the Super Falcons. Perennial winners and overall leaders, the duo have been consistent over the years and shown why their longevity is an inspiration for many a footballer on the African continent.

Fastest goal

Mariem Houij – 17 seconds (WAFCON 2022)

It took Tunisian Mariem Houij just 17 seconds to etch her name in the WAFCON history books. A lightning-fast sprint followed by a clean strike and the ball in the back of the net against Togo in the 2022 edition is fresh in the memory of many.
This moment of brilliance marked the fastest goal in the competition’s history. With the 2026 edition promising to be thrilling, the 413 players involved will have only one thing on their minds – to find the back of the net even faster and dethrone this legendary record.

Record for most goals scored by a player in a single edition

Perpetua Nkwocha – 11 goals (WAFCON 2010)

If there is one peak achievement that seems invincible in the history of African Football, it is undoubtedly the one reached by Perpetua Nkwocha at the WAFCON 2010. Carrying Nigeria single-handedly to the African title, the legendary Super Falcons striker tormented opposing defences by scoring an astonishing 11 goals in a single tournament.
Fueled by two memorable hat-tricks (against Mali in the group stages and in the semifinal against Cameroon), Nkwocha set an all-time high mark that remains the ultimate standard for goal-scoring efficiency on the continent – 16 years later!

Overall Goals Scored in the Tournament
66 Goals – Women’s AFCON 2024

From a collective standpoint, the Morocco 2024 edition reached unprecedented heights of attacking efficiency. With an unprecedented total of 66 goals scored throughout the competition, the tournament showcased a constant spectacle and impressive clinical finishing. This absolute record in the history of the WAFCON is testament to the tactical and technical leap forward of an entire continent.
However, this benchmark is likely to be quickly erased from the record books with the tournament’s historic expansion to 16 nations for the 2026 edition; the increased number of matches provides the perfect opportunity to see this glass ceiling shattered and a new goalscoring record established.

-CAF

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