The Algerian women’s national football team triumphed over their Moroccan counterparts in a thrilling penalty shootout, securing a 3-2 victory after the teams ended regulation time in a 1-1 draw. This decisive match, held on Saturday evening at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, awarded Algeria the bronze medal in the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
Despite the evident dominance displayed by the Moroccan side, known as the "Atlas Lionesses," throughout the match, where they maintained 60% possession and executed 23 attempts on goal compared to Algeria's mere six, this control was insufficient to avert defeat. The Moroccan striker, Kawther Azraf, opened the scoring in the 38th minute, bringing hopes of victory to her team. However, Algeria fought back valiantly, with Lina Bousaha, who was named the match's best player, equalizing in the 83rd minute.
In a dramatic turn of events during stoppage time, Moroccan defender Nailah Benzina missed a crucial penalty that could have clinched the match in favor of Morocco, showcasing the high stakes and pressure of the encounter. The penalty shootout saw the Moroccan team falter, failing to convert three attempts, while Algeria successfully converted two, thus earning them the coveted third place.
This marks the third consecutive occasion that Morocco has fallen short of reaching the podium at the continental level, having previously lost in the finals of the 2022 and 2024 editions. The current tournament’s final is set to feature Cameroon facing Malawi, scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
