Morocco made a commanding statement in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) by defeating Kenya 4-0 in their opening Group A match.Ibtissam Jraidi scored twice, while Sakina Ouzraoui and Meriem Atiq added goals to secure the victory.

The Atlas Lionesses' dominant performance highlighted their intent to claim the continental title for the first time after consecutive runner-up finishes.Algeria also started strongly with a 2-0 win over Senegal, thanks to Marine Dafeur's penalty and Mélissa Bethi's late strike.Both teams now lead Group A on goal difference, setting up a crucial clash between them in the next round.The tournament, expanded to 16 teams, serves as a qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.Kenya faces a tough challenge against Senegal, while Banyana Banyana begin their Group B campaign against Tanzania.The results underscore the competitive nature of the group stage and the high stakes for teams aiming to advance to the knockout rounds.