* And a historic qualification for the Women’s FIFA World Cup™ Brazil 2027 as they open the Morocco 2026 edition against Algeria this evening (19h00), meeting for the first time ever
* With two-time runners-up, hosts Morocco welcoming Kenya’s Harambee Starlets (21h00) on their return to the continental women’s football showpiece after a 10-year absence
Maravi Express
Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) kicks off this evening with two Group A encounters when Senegal will face Algeria (19h00) while hosts Morocco will be up against Kenya (22h00).
And setting the tone to highlight Africa’s biggest women’s football tournament, SuperSport will broadcast all the 34 matches live — on DStv Channel 225 (https://dstv.stream) and on GOtv Channel 61 (https://gotv.stream).
After two consecutive WAfCON quarterfinal appearances (2022 and 2024), Senegal aim for the next step — the semifinals that will guarantee them a historic qualification for the Women’s FIFA World Cup™ Brazil 2027.
The West Africans, coached by Mame Moussa Cissé since 2019, have displayed consistency that comes with a responsibility to not only make it into the semifinals but even for a shot at the title itself.
“… we are here to take this next step for Senegalese women’s football,” coach Cissé said at a pre-match press conference. “If I thought otherwise, we would have stayed in Senegal.
“We have a mix, a very cohesive group — I think we are ready,” said the coach, who is relying on a rejuvenated and ambitious squad, blending experienced players with promising young talent from the junior teams — U17 and U20.
Mame Moussa Cissé
“It is up to us now to put in all the necessary ingredients so that we can take this next step,” he said.
For this first match, the statistics favour a good start. Senegal won their opening game in the last two editions (2-0 against Uganda in 2022 and 4-0 against DR Congo in 2024.
The Senegalese attack will notably rely on its poster girl, Nguenar Ndiaye, the country’s all-time leading goal scorer in the WAfCON with five goals — four of which were scored in the 2024 edition alone.
Nguenar Ndiaye
However, Senegal will have to overcome their jinx against North African nations, against whom the Lionesses have yet to score a single goal in three encounters — two 1-0 defeats against Morocco and a goalless draw against Tunisia.
Algeria’s coach Farid Benstiti enters the tournament confident in the recent progress of his team, which is participating in a commendable 7th WAfCON finals.
Free from all pressure, the Fennecs’ women intend to continue their collective rise, whose main strength lies in their remarkable defensive solidity.
Algeria did not concede a single goal at the WAfCON 2024 keeping four impressive clean sheets and boasting an outstanding 416-minute unbeaten run in the tournament. Their last goal conceded dates back to 2018.
Nevertheless, the Algerians face a significant offensive challenge. They have scored only one goal in their last four AfCON matches — a 1-0 victory against Botswana and are currently on a 381-minute goalless streak, ending their last three outings with goalless draws.
Return of Kenya after a 10-year absence
Meanwhile, two-time runners-up, hosts Morocco, welcome Kenya’s Harambee Starlets on their return to the continental women’s football showpiece after a 10-year absence.
Facing the media, national coach Jorge Vilda — who led Spain to victory in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and captain Ghislaine Chebbak, appeared relaxed yet focused ahead of their clash.
When asked about their status as favourites and the pressure inherent in playing at home for the third consecutive edition, both dismissed the idea of it being a burden.
“Playing at home, in front of our fans and families, will never be a negative,” the Spanish coach insisted. “We do not feel that pressure.
“If anything, we feel the illusion and the excitement of showcasing our football,” said the coach, who has a balanced squad blending experienced veterans and promising young talent integrated over the last few training camps.
More than 50 players have been tested in a year and the Atlas Lionesses approaches this tournament with confidence.
And history is on their side. In the past 13 WAfCON editions, the host nation has won their opening match 11 times — with only one loss and one draw.
Even better, the host nations are currently on a nine-match unbeaten run in their opening matches.
Crowned 2025 African Player of the Year, captain Chebbak also brushed aside individual expectations with her characteristic selflessness.
“My goal is to bring my best self to the team. Individual accolades are nice, but what really counts are the team trophies.”
Captain Ghislaine Chebbak
Indeed, the Atlas Lionesses’ greatest weapon is Chebbak. Morocco’s all-time leading scorer at the WAfCON with eight goals, the captain is a true taliswoman.
Morocco have won five of the six matches in which she has found the net. Ironically, Morocco’s only defeat with a goal from Chebbak dates back to the WAfCON 2024 final against Nigeria 3-2.
On the Kenyan side, the atmosphere was one of renewed pride. Absent from the continental tournament for a decade, Kenya arrives in Morocco with no timidity, determined to erase the memory of 2016 when the country suffered three defeats in three matches during their first appearance.
Coach Beldine Odemba — a former international and holder of a CAF A coaching license — expressed her satisfaction with the work accomplished in recent months, notably a training camp abroad, solid qualifying performances (victories against Tunisia and The Gambia), and participation in the FIFA Women’s Series in Nairobi.
But perhaps the true strength of these Harambee Starlets lies in their youthful exuberance. The squad is built on the promising generation that competed in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2024 in the Dominican Republic.
“These young players bring unique experience to our football. They have already played in a World Cup, they know the demands of the highest level,” emphasised Odemba, one of the few women to manage a senior national team on the continent.
“To grow, you have to face the best. Playing the host nation right from the start is a privilege. We want to get off to a good start and we are ready.”
The Kenyans will be looking to score their first-ever points in the competition, having never managed to keep a clean sheet in the final stages of a continental tournament.—Reporting by CAFonline; editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
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All the fixtures — kick-off times CAT):
Group stages
Group A
Sunday, July 26
Algeria v Senegal (19h00)
Morocco v Kenya (22h00)
Group B
Monday, July 27
South Africa v Tanzania (19h00)
Côte d’Ivoire v Burkina Faso (22h00)
Group C
Tuesday July 28
Zambia v Egypt (19h00)
Nigeria v Malawi (22h00)
Group D
Wednesday, July 29
Ghana v Cape Verde (19h00)
Cameroon vs Mali (22h00)
Thursday, July 30
Group A
Senegal v Kenya (19h00)
Morocco v Algeria (22h00)
Friday, July 31
Group B
South Africa v Côte d’Ivoire (19h00)
Burkina Faso v Tanzania (22h00)
Saturday, August 1
Group C
Egypt v Malawi (19h00)
Nigeria v Zambia (22h00)
Sunday, August 2
Group D
Ghana v Cameroon (19h00)
Mali v Cape Verde (22h00)
Monday, August 3
Group A
Senegal v Morocco (22h00)
Kenya v Algeria (22h00)
Tuesday, August 4
Group B
Burkina Faso v South Africa (22h00)
Tanzania v Côte d’Ivoire (22h00)
Wednesday, August 5
Group C
Egypt v Nigeria (22h00)
Malawi v Zambia (22h00)
Thursday, August 6
Group D
Mali v Ghana (22h00)
Cape Verde v Cameroon (22h00)
Quarterfinals
Saturday, August 8
QF 2: Winner Group B v 2nd Place Group A (19h00)
QF 1: Winner Group A v 2nd Place Group B (22h00)
Sunday, August 9
QF 4: Winner Group D v 2nd Place Group C (19h00)
QF 3: Winner Group C v 2nd Place Group D (22h00)
Semifinals
Wednesday, August 12
SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF3 (19h00)
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4 (22h00)
World Cup 2027 play-off matches
Thursday, August 13
Loser QF2 v Loser QF3 (19h00)
Loser QF1 v Loser QF4 (22h00)
Third place play-off
Saturday, August 15
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 (19h00)
WAfCON 2026 final
Sunday, August 16
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Moulay Hassan Stadium or Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, (21h00)
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