Morocco's Atlas Lionesses finish fourth in Women's AFCON 2026 after penalty shootout loss to Algeria

The match, held at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, saw Kautar Azraf open the scoring for Morocco in the 37th minute. However, Lina Boussaha equalized for Algeria in the 83rd minute. A penalty awarded to Morocco in the 97th minute was missed by Nouhaïla Benzina, leading directly to the penalty shootout, where Algeria prevailed.

This outcome follows a similar defeat in the semi-finals against Cameroon, also decided by a penalty shootout. Despite securing qualification for the 2027 World Cup by reaching the semi-finals, the team's offensive inefficiency and repeated struggles in penalty shootouts have raised concerns. Coach Jorge Vilda's tactical approach is under scrutiny, and a generational transition within the squad, including key players like captain Ghizlane Chebbak, Najat Badri, and Fatima Tagnaout, is deemed necessary by the FRMF to prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.