In a nail-biting conclusion that could rival any thriller, Algeria staged a remarkable comeback, equalizing in the 83rd minute, narrowly escaping defeat as Morocco missed a crucial penalty in the dying moments of the match, and ultimately triumphing in a tense shootout to secure third place at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. This victory marks the pinnacle of Algeria's participation in the tournament, as they achieved their best-ever performance, having never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in previous editions.
The match commenced with a rather uneventful first half, where both teams struggled to create significant scoring opportunities. Algeria faced an early scare just three minutes in when goalkeeper Lana Smits misjudged a headed back pass, forcing teammate Chloe N'Gazi to intervene desperately to avert disaster against Ibtissam Jraidi. However, the Greens quickly regrouped, seeking to capitalize on counterattacks, with Ikram Adjabi receiving a long ball that was ultimately controlled by Khadija Errmichi. Roselene Khezami emerged as a critical player, thwarting a Moroccan corner kick with a decisive defensive play.
Morocco began to find their rhythm, creating clear chances, notably striking the post when Jraidi's close-range attempt from a Sakina Ouzraoui cross ricocheted off the far post. Smits showcased her defensive prowess by clearing another threatening ball from the box after Ouzraoui's advance. Elodie Nakkach attempted a powerful shot from 30 meters that narrowly missed N'Gazi's goal. Yasmin Mrabet had a promising free-kick opportunity but failed to convert, curling her shot over the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally came for Morocco when the young Kautar Azraf scored after being beautifully set up by Hanane Ait El Haj. Azraf controlled the ball expertly on the right side of the box, maneuvered past defender Ines Belloumou, and found the back of the net, bringing the score to 1-0. The 18-year-old Barcelona reserve player was visibly emotional, almost in tears from the significance of her goal.
As the second half commenced, Morocco seemed poised to extend their lead when Maryame Atiq scored from a free kick taken by Azraf. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review, leaving Morocco frustrated. The second half devolved into a scrappy encounter, marked by numerous fouls and missed opportunities. Algeria finally registered their first shot on target in the 74th minute, with Lina Boussaha driving into the Moroccan box and managing to equalize after several attempts. With a deft toe-poke, Boussaha scored, leveling the match at 1-1.
As the match neared its conclusion, Morocco was awarded a penalty after a VAR review in stoppage time. However, history repeated itself as Nouhaila Benzina's penalty struck the post, failing to capitalize on the opportunity. The match transitioned into a penalty shootout, where Algeria's Dafeur opened the scoring, and despite a few misses from both sides, Algeria ultimately triumphed when Jraidi's attempt hit the crossbar, sealing a historic victory for Algeria and securing their place in the upcoming 2026 AFCON.
As reported by flashscore.com.
