Hosts Morocco made the perfect start to their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Kenya in their Group A opener at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Sunday.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, the Atlas Lionesses delivered an impressive all-round display as Ibtissam Jraidi scored twice, while Sakina Ouzraoui and Meriem Atiq also found the net to seal a comfortable win.
The convincing result sends Morocco to the top of Group A on goal difference, edging ahead of Algeria, who defeated Senegal 2-0 earlier in the day.
For Kenya, returning to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 10-year absence, it proved to be a harsh reminder of the level required against one of Africa’s strongest women’s teams.
Morocco Dominate from the Start
Morocco wasted little time asserting their authority, controlling possession and pinning Kenya deep inside their own half with relentless attacking pressure.
The Harambee Starlets defended bravely during the opening stages, but the breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute.
Sakina Ouzraoui found space inside the penalty area before calmly firing a low shot past the Kenyan goalkeeper to hand the hosts a deserved lead.
Just eight minutes later, Morocco doubled their advantage.
From a well-delivered corner, Meriem Atiq rose above the Kenyan defence to power a header into the back of the net, putting Jorge Vilda’s side firmly in control.
Kenya struggled to cope with Morocco’s intensity, and the pressure paid off again before half-time when Ibtissam Jraidi headed home Morocco’s third goal, capping a dominant first-half performance.
With a three-goal cushion at the break, the hosts had effectively settled the contest.
Jraidi Completes the Job
Any hopes Kenya had of mounting a comeback disappeared almost immediately after the restart.
Just two minutes into the second half, Jraidi grabbed her second goal of the evening, finishing confidently to make it 4-0 and complete a brilliant individual performance.
Her brace highlighted her importance to a Moroccan side determined to finally lift the WAFCON trophy after finishing runners-up in each of the last two editions.
With the match safely under control, coach Jorge Vilda rotated his squad, introducing fresh legs while allowing several key players to rest ahead of tougher fixtures.
Morocco continued to enjoy the majority of possession, although the tempo slowed as Kenya focused on preventing the scoreline from becoming even more one-sided.
Atlas Lionesses Take Early Control of Group A
The emphatic victory gives Morocco three points and a healthy goal difference at the top of Group A.
Algeria sit second after their opening win over Senegal, while Senegal and Kenya are still searching for their first points of the tournament.
Morocco’s next match against Algeria is already shaping up to be one of the biggest fixtures in the group, with top spot potentially on the line.
Meanwhile, Kenya face a must-win clash against Senegal if they hope to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The expanded 16-team WAFCON tournament also serves as a pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically, while two losing quarter-finalists will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs for another chance to reach the global tournament.
Coaches React
Kenya head coach Beldine Odemba admitted her side struggled to cope with Morocco’s transitions but believes there is still time to recover.
“We didn’t have the desired control in the transition phases. We have two matches left against Senegal and Algeria; it’s up to us to correct our mistakes.”
Morocco coach Jorge Vilda praised his team’s preparation and believes the performance provides the ideal platform for the rest of the competition.
“It’s a good start. When you start a tournament like this, it means you’ve had good preparation. I’m satisfied with what I saw from the team today.”
With confidence high after an emphatic opening victory, Morocco have sent an early warning to the rest of the tournament that they are serious contenders to win their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil.
