Algeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a convincing 2-0 victory over Kenya on Monday, securing second place in Group A behind hosts Morocco.
The North Africans laid the platform for victory with two first-half goals before producing a disciplined defensive performance after the break to comfortably see out the result and advance to the knockout stage.
Captain Marine Defeur opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick before Lynda Bendris capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake to double Algeria's advantage.
Algeria made the perfect start in the 14th minute when Defeur curled a superb long-range free-kick beyond Kenya goalkeeper Lilian Awuor, giving her side an early lead.
The Fennecs doubled their advantage just nine minutes later as Bendris applied relentless pressure inside the penalty area. The striker dispossessed goalkeeper Elizabeth Ochaka before calmly finishing into the net to put Algeria firmly in control.
Kenya responded positively and nearly pulled one back in the 26th minute, but Martha Emedot's powerful long-range strike drifted narrowly wide of the target.
Despite showing greater urgency after the interval, the East Africans were unable to break down Algeria's well-organised defence, with the North Africans comfortably protecting their two-goal cushion until the final whistle.
The victory sees Algeria finish second in Group A with six points, one behind group winners Morocco, to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
For Kenya, the defeat brings an end to their WAFCON 2026 campaign, as they exit the competition without collecting a point from their three group-stage matches.
