Algeria reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after beating Kenya 2-0 in their final Group A match.
The victory confirmed Algeria’s place in the knockout stage and secured second position in the group, behind hosts Morocco. Kenya, meanwhile, finished their campaign without a point and were eliminated from the tournament.
Algeria made the breakthrough in the 14th minute when captain Marine Dafeur produced an outstanding long-range free-kick. Her effort gave the Algerians an early advantage and put them in control of a match they would ultimately manage comfortably.
They extended that lead nine minutes later through Lynda Bendris. The second goal followed a goalkeeping mistake, which Bendris was able to exploit as Algeria moved two goals clear before the halfway point of the first half.
From there, Algeria controlled the contest from start to finish. They protected their advantage effectively and completed a comfortable victory, ensuring there was no late uncertainty over their qualification for the quarter-finals.
The result leaves Algeria behind Morocco in Group A, with the hosts finishing top of the section. Algeria can now turn their attention to the knockout rounds after ending the group stage with the result they needed to progress.
For Kenya, the defeat brought their involvement in the competition to an end. They leave the tournament still waiting for their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory. Although they showed flashes of promise during their campaign, they were unable to collect a point from their Group A matches.
Algeria’s performance against Kenya reflected the control they maintained throughout the game. Dafeur’s set-piece quality gave them the platform for the win, while Bendris’ goal, created by an error in the Kenyan goal, increased the pressure on their opponents before the match had reached the interval.
With the final whistle confirming the 2-0 scoreline, Algeria could celebrate a quarter-final place and second spot in Group A. Kenya, in contrast, ended their WAFCON campaign without a win and without a point.
The tournament now moves into its knockout phase for Algeria, while Kenya’s players depart having shown encouraging moments but without claiming the first WAFCON victory they were seeking.
