Algeria claimed the bronze medal at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after beating hosts Morocco 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw Saturday.
The result gave Algeria their best-ever finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after reaching the semifinals for the first time.
Morocco took the lead in the 37th minute when Kaoutar Azraf finished a move involving Hanane Ait El Haj to put the hosts 1-0 ahead at halftime.
Algeria refused to give up and were rewarded in the 83rd minute when Lina Boussaha equalized to send the match into a tense finish.
Morocco appeared to have a chance to win the match in stoppage time after being awarded a penalty in the 97th minute. However, Nouhaila Benzina missed from the spot.
Neither side could find a winner before the final whistle, sending the match straight to a penalty shootout.
Algeria held their nerve from the spot to win 3-2 and secure third place.
The victory was especially significant for Algeria, who had never previously reached the last four of the competition.
They had lost 3-1 to Malawi in the semifinals, while Morocco were eliminated by Cameroon after a 0-0 draw and 3-1 penalty shootout defeat.
The bronze-medal match was also a rematch of the teams’ group-stage meeting.
Morocco won that game 1-0 on July 30 through Sanaa Mssoudy’s late goal.
For Morocco, the defeat means a fourth-place finish on home soil after another painful penalty shootout loss.
Algeria, meanwhile, leave the tournament with a historic bronze medal and a campaign that has established them among Africa’s leading women’s teams.
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