Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Algeria Beats Morocco on Penalties to Take WAFCON Third Place

Algeria’s win signals a shift in African women’s football with four semifinalists clinching World Cup berths.

Overview

  • The third-place match finished 1-1 after regulation when Nouhaila Benzina struck a VAR-awarded stoppage-time penalty off the post, sending the game to a shootout.
  • Kautar Azraf put Morocco ahead in the 37th minute and Lina Boussaha equalised for Algeria in the 83rd minute to force the penalty decider.
  • Algeria won the shootout 3-2 as goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazin saved two spot kicks and Ines Belloumou converted the decisive penalty.
  • This third-place finish is Algeria’s best-ever result at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations while Morocco has now failed to win any of the three WAFCON tournaments it has hosted.
  • Cameroon and tournament debutant Malawi will meet in the final to decide the champion and all four semifinalists have secured places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.