With the disappointment of the semi-final defeat behind them, the Atlas Lionesses must now regroup. Their hopes of winning a first continental title ended against Cameroon, but they have one final match to play at the 2026 Women’s AFCON: the third-place playoff against Algeria on Saturday, August 15.
For Ghizlane Chebbak and her teammates, the objective is to finish the tournament on a positive note and, above all, on the podium. A victory would also reward Morocco’s campaign in a tournament they had controlled well up to the semi-finals.
The Atlas Lionesses finished top of Group A with seven points. They opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over Kenya before beating Algeria 1-0 in the North African derby. A goalless draw against Senegal then secured top spot in the group.
Morocco confirmed their progress in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over South Africa, which also secured their place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Their run ended in the semi-finals against Cameroon, putting an end to their hopes of lifting the continental trophy for the first time.
Algeria head into the match with the same desire to bounce back. The Greens also reached the semi-finals after beating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the quarterfinals, before losing 3-1 to Malawi.
The second North African derby of the tournament will therefore have a different feel from the first. Algeria will be looking for revenge, while Morocco will aim to confirm their group-stage victory and finish the competition with a medal. Playing at home, the Atlas Lionesses will once again count on the support of their fans as they seek third place.
Morocco vs Algeria kicks off at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on Arryadia TNT, the third channel of the SNRT group. The match will also be available on beIN Sports, the UK’s Channel 4, DAZN in Europe, Ziggo, and CANAL+ in French-speaking Africa, among other broadcasters.
