The Lionnes de la Téranga faced an abrupt exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a scoreless draw against Morocco on Monday evening at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium. The result, which concluded Group A action, sealed Senegal’s fate in the group stage despite their best efforts.
Morocco secures top spot with unbeaten run
Host nation Morocco approached this final group match with confidence after already securing qualification for the quarterfinals. The Atlas Lionesses entered the clash unbeaten, following victories against Kenya (4-0) and Algeria (1-0), and aimed to maintain their perfect record while finishing as group leaders.
Senegal, under the guidance of coach Mame Moussa Cissé, required a victory to stand any chance of advancing. Their campaign had been inconsistent, starting with a heavy defeat to Algeria before bouncing back with a narrow win over Kenya. However, the draw against Morocco proved insufficient to progress beyond the group stage.
Senegal’s campaign falls short of expectations
The goalless encounter reflected the evenly matched nature of both sides, with neither able to break the deadlock. Morocco’s disciplined defense and controlled attacking play ensured they remained undefeated throughout the group phase, while Senegal’s hopes of a quarterfinal berth evaporated in the final minutes of their campaign.
The Lionnes de la Téranga leave the tournament with their ambitions unfulfilled after reaching the quarterfinals in the previous editions of 2022 and 2024. Their early departure represents a setback for a team that had set higher goals this time around.
A balanced group stage concludes
The final standings in Group A saw Morocco top the chart with 7 points, followed by Algeria with 6 points and Kenya with 1 point. Senegal’s tally of 3 points leaves them on the sidelines, their journey cut short in the opening round of the competition.
