WAFCON 2026: Morocco Held by Senegal but Finish Top of Group A
Hosts Morocco finished top of Group A at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Senegal in Rabat on Monday.
The Atlas Lionesses dominated much of the contest at Stade Moulay Hassan but were repeatedly denied by Senegal goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye, whose heroics earned her a second successive TotalEnergies Woman of the Match award.
The game’s pivotal moment came midway through the second half when Morocco were awarded a penalty after a foul in the area. Yasmine Mrabet’s initial effort was saved by Ndiaye, but the kick was ordered to be retaken after the goalkeeper was ruled to have moved off her line.
Ndiaye then produced another outstanding stop to deny Mrabet from the retake three minutes later, preserving Senegal’s clean sheet and frustrating the tournament hosts.
The 19-year-old finished with seven saves and became the first player—and the only goalkeeper—to win the Woman of the Match award twice at the 2026 tournament. She celebrates her 20th birthday on 4 August.
The draw was enough for Morocco to end the group stage on seven points and secure first place in Group A. Algeria progressed to the quarter-finals as runners-up with six points, while Senegal finished third on four points and Kenya ended bottom without a point.
Morocco will now await their quarter-final opponents as they continue their bid to win a first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil.
