Morocco advance at WAFCON despite heated draw against Senegal

No sooner had the match kicked off than Senegal launched a counter-attack, with Seynabou Mbengue firing off a long-range curling effort that forced the Moroccan goalkeeper into her first save (2').

Played in at the edge of the box from a cut-back cross, Sakina Ouzraoui took her chance from the centre of the box with a low shot, which was parried away for a corner by Adji Ndiaye (6'). On the right-hand side of the box, Ghizlane Chebbak struck a good free-kick, met by a header from Nouhaila Benzina that didn’t dip enough as it flew over the bar (8').

Spotted by a through ball from Elodie Nakkach, Chebbak controlled it with her back to goal and turned to take a shot from close range, but went just wide (10').

Sent through on her own on a counterattack, Chebbak raced down the centre and tried her luck with the tip of her boot on the edge of the box, but was awarded a corner after a Senegalese defender blocked her shot (17').

Then it was Nguenar Ndiaye’s turn to be picked out in the centre on a counter-attack, but her shot was too flat, and Khadija Errmichi dived to save it (25'). Another Senegalese counter-attack nearly paid off, with Errmichi rushing off her line to beat Ndeye Casset to the ball, only to collide with her team-mate, but recovered in time to claim the ball (33').

Senegal pressed on again after a volley from the edge of the box was blocked by the Moroccan defence; Marieme Bebou cut the ball back to find Ndeye Diakhate. The Senegalese No. 10 followed up with a half-volley that struck the crossbar (38').

Adji Ndiaye made a superb header to clear a floating cross from Hanane Ait El Haj that was heading for goal (43'). Then it was Elodie Nakkach’s turn to try her luck with a shot across goal that once again tested Ndiaye (45'). 

But still couldn't find the net.

Two penalties saved in quick succession by Ndiaye

After the break, tensions flared following a handball that the Moroccan players wanted to see awarded as a penalty after a long-range free-kick rebounded off Sokhna Pene’s hand (52').

But the referee awarded only a free-kick in the centre of the pitch. Tensions flared between the two sides over the position of the free-kick, to the point where the players had to be pulled apart (54'). The referee finally decided to consult the VAR, but after reviewing the footage, she stood by her original decision (56'). 

Morocco stepped up the pressure on Senegal and on two occasions, Ndiaye had to gather the ball on the edge of her goal to prevent the Lionesses of the Atlas from opening the scoring (60' and 62' minutes).

This time, Morocco were indeed awarded a penalty after a foul by Babou, who tripped Ouzraoui in the box. Yasmin Mrabet stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw Ndiaye dive perfectly to tip the ball away for a corner (66').

The penalty had to be retaken, but the result was the same: Ndiaye leapt high and tipped Mrabet’s attempt over the crossbar (68').

Morocco had another chance to open the scoring following a superb solo run by Ouzraoui, who beat each defender in the box in turn but drifted too far out to the left and failed to hit the target with her shot at the end of the run (76').

Senegal tried to respond with a corner headed by Ndiaye, but it went wide. The same was true of Mama Diop’s shot, which was blocked by the defence (79').

Morocco created a string of big chances and, after the ball had been floating around the Senegalese box for some time, Chebbak was denied by an excellent clearance from Fatoumata Drame, which blocked her well-struck shot (84').

From 30 metres out, Nakkach attempted a powerful shot whilst off balance, which sailed well over Ndiaye’s crossbar (87'). Morocco missed another huge chance when Benzina met a cross from close range with her foot, only to be denied by the Senegalese defence (90'+4). Sanaa Mssoudy’s header from a final cross by Imane Saoud had the whole of the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium on its feet, but it went just wide (90’+11).

Group A standings

Despite showing plenty of promise in this third match, Senegal are out of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing third in Group A with four points, behind Morocco in first place (seven points) and Algeria in second (six points).

The defeat to Algeria (0–2) in the opening match proved costly for the Lionesses of Teranga, who had reached the quarter-finals in the last two editions. Morocco, meanwhile, are through to the quarter-finals of their Africa Cup of Nations and will face the runners-up in Group B – currently Tanzania, pending the final matchday which takes place tomorrow, Saturday, at 10.00 pm.

Match ratings via Flashscore Ratings