WAFCON 2026: Morocco lose again on penalties as Algeria finish third

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Morocco suffered more penalty shootout heartache in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Algeria after a 1-1 draw in the third place play-off.

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The WAFCON hosts were eliminated in the semi-finals on Wednesday after losing a shootout to Cameroon after having three consecutive kicks saved.

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Against Algeria in Rabat there was a repeat as Morocco converted their first two penalties, then missed the following three.

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Algeria failed to score from two of four penalties, then Ines Belloumou netted to give Algeria bronze.

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Kautar Azraf had put Morocco ahead in the 37th minute of regular time and Lina Boussaha equalised on 83 minutes. There was no extra time.

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This is the third straight WAFCON hosted by Morocco and they have come up short every time. In 2022 and 2024 they finished runners-up.

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The only consolation for the Atlas Lionesses is that reaching the semi-finals guaranteed them a place at the 32-nation Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year.

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Cameroon and giant killers Malawi, who meet in the WAFCON final on Sunday, and Algeria have also secured places at the global showpiece.

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South Africa and Ghana could swell the number of African representatives to six by qualifying from inter-continental play-offs.

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AFP

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