Morocco Reaches Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Quarterfinals After Senegal Draw

The match at Stade Moulay El Hassan was a high-stakes encounter defined by missed opportunities and a lingering tension that has come to characterize the modern rivalry between these two nations. For the Morocco women’s team, the stalemate was enough to maintain their leadership in the group, continuing a dominant run in the tournament’s opening stage. This qualification marks the third time the host nation and double-vice champion of Africa in title has reached the quarterfinals of the Women’s CAN.

Penalty Misses and Defensive Resilience in Rabat

Morocco controlled much of the possession from the opening whistle, creating several scoring chances. The Moroccan players invested in the opposing camp and obtained the first corner of the match in the 3rd minute, though it yielded nothing against an organized Senegalese defense. Ibtissam Ouzraoui was a constant threat, with a shot in the 7th minute repelled by Senegalese goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye; Ouzraoui was put in check again a few minutes later after another attempt at the first post. Captain Ghizlane Chebbak also stood out in the 14th minute, passing near the Senegalese goalkeeper. However, the match’s most critical moment arrived in the 63rd minute when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty after Ouzraoui was fouled by Fall in the area.

The opportunity to break the deadlock vanished in a chaotic sequence. Yasmine Mrabet saw her initial attempt saved by Adji Ndiaye. Following a VAR review, the penalty was ordered to be retaken due to an infraction during the execution, but the second attempt was also unsuccessful.

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Senegal nearly snatched a victory in the closing stages. Throughout the match, Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi provided critical saves to keep the scoreline level.

Group A Final Standings and Qualification

The draw allowed Morocco to finish the group stage undefeated. The team’s progression is part of a larger trend of consistency, as they have remained unbeaten in their last eight group matches in the competition. Prior to the draw, the players of Jorge Vilda had secured two consecutive victories, including a 4-0 win over Kenya and a 1-0 success in the Maghreb derby against Algeria, decided by a late goal from Sanaa Mssoudy.

Team	Points	Matches	Goals For/Against	Difference
Morocco	7	3	5 / 0	+5
Algeria	6	3	4 / 1	+3
Senegal	4	3	1 / 2	-1
Kenya	0	3	0 / 7	-7

While Morocco and Algeria move forward to the quarterfinals, Senegal’s exit follows a difficult group phase. Despite a victory over Kenya, the Senegalese side could not overcome the deficit created by an opening 0-2 loss to Algeria. Kenya finished last, failing to score a single goal across three matches.

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The Shadow of the 2025 Men’s Final

The sporting contest on August 3 was framed by the deep diplomatic and athletic friction resulting from the 2025 Men’s CAN final. That match ended in a controversy that saw Senegal stripped of a 1-0 victory in extra time and the title awarded to Morocco via a 3-0 default victory.

The CAF appeals commission declared Senegal as having forfeited the final after players briefly left the pitch to protest a late penalty. During the final on January 18 in Rabat, the Senegalese players were led off the field by coach Pape Thiaw for about fifteen minutes while supporters attempted to storm the pitch. This decision relied on Article 82 of the tournament regulations, which states that any team leaving the field without the referee’s authorization is considered the loser and definitively eliminated.

The fallout from that decision remains visceral. Senegalese players reacted with public defiance on social media following the verdict.

The tension extended to the governing bodies. The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced it would seek legal procedures through CAF and FIFA to rule on the withdrawal of the Senegalese team and the accompanying events. FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the “inadmissible” exit from the field by the Senegalese players and called upon the competent disciplinary bodies of CAF to take appropriate measures.

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On Monday morning, the Confédération africaine de football (CAF) promised to act, stating: We condemn the unacceptable behavior of certain players and officials during the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 between Morocco and Senegal, which took place Sunday evening in Rabat. Some media, including the Spanish daily AS, have mentioned potential suspensions of 4 to 6 matches for players who left the pitch, which could impact future World Cup matches, though such sanctions do not appear in the regulations.

Next Steps for the Lionnes de l’Atlas

Morocco now prepares for the knockout stage of the tournament. Having conceded zero goals throughout the group stage, the host nation enters the quarterfinals as a primary contender for the continental title.