Morocco suffered another penalty shootout heartbreak at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Algeria after a 1-1 draw in the third-place play-off in Rabat.
The WAFCON hosts had been knocked out in the semi-finals on Wednesday after losing to Cameroon in a penalty shootout, having missed three consecutive spot-kicks.
There was more misery from 12 yards against Algeria. Morocco converted their first two penalties before missing their next three, while Algeria also failed to score from two of their four attempts.
Ines Belloumou then converted the decisive penalty to secure bronze for Algeria.
Morocco had taken the lead in the 37th minute through Kautar Azraf, but Lina Boussaha equalised for Algeria in the 83rd minute. There was no extra time before the match went straight to penalties.
The defeat extended Morocco’s frustrating record at home. This was the third consecutive WAFCON tournament hosted by the Atlas Lionesses, and they have fallen short on each occasion. They finished runners-up in both 2022 and 2024.
Their consolation is that reaching the semi-finals secured Morocco a place at next year’s 32-team Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Cameroon, who face giant-killers Malawi in Sunday’s WAFCON final, and Algeria have also booked their places at the global showpiece.
South Africa and Ghana could increase Africa’s representation to six teams by coming through the intercontinental play-offs.
AFP
