Algeria made a confident start to their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, seeing off Senegal 2-0 in the tournament’s opening fixture to temporarily climb to the top of Group A.
The North Africans scored once in each half to get the better of the Lionesses of Teranga in what was an otherwise closely fought contest, with clear-cut chances hard to come by for much of the match.
Bristol City midfielder Marine Dafeur broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time, calmly dispatching a penalty to hand Farid Benstiti’s side a deserved lead heading into the interval.
Senegal pushed hard for a way back into the game after the restart, but Algeria held firm defensively while continuing to pose a threat on the counter.
Melissa Bethi wrapped up the points in the 88th minute, converting a well-crafted team move to put the result beyond any doubt.
The victory places Algeria at the top of Group A ahead of the group’s second fixture, in which hosts Morocco face Kenya’s Harambee Starlets later on Sunday.