The first matchday of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations wrapped up Wednesday evening in Morocco, and it did not disappoint. Between historic upsets, offensive displays and expected confirmations, all four groups have now delivered their opening verdict, ahead of two highly anticipated Group A fixtures on Thursday.
In Group A, played at Moulay El Hassan Stadium and Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, Algeria produced the tournament’s first shock by beating Senegal 2-0 in the opening match on Sunday. Host nation Morocco, meanwhile, reassured its supporters by thrashing Kenya 4-0.
Group B also delivered its share of lessons. South Africa, held to a 1-2 defeat by Tanzania, endured a difficult start, while Côte d’Ivoire imposed themselves with authority against Burkina Faso (4-1), taking provisional control of the group.
It was Group C, however, that produced the real bombshell of this opening matchday. On Tuesday in Rabat, Zambia thoroughly demolished Egypt by a scoreline of 6-0, driven by an exceptional four-goal haul from captain Barbra Banda, Africa’s 2024 Women’s Player of the Year. Racheal Nachula had opened the scoring from the penalty spot as early as the 25th minute, before Banda took over in the second half, scoring her four goals between the 60th and the 90+6th minute. It is simply the biggest win recorded in a Women’s AFCON final tournament since the competition began.
Right after that, Malawi produced one of the biggest upsets of this edition by beating Nigeria, ten-time African champions and reigning title holders, 3-2. In their very first appearance at a Women’s AFCON final tournament, the Malawian side showed remarkable composure: after a goalless first half, Temwa Chawinga opened the scoring in the 73rd minute, before her older sister Tabitha doubled the lead six minutes later. The Super Falcons did try to fight back through Rasheedat Ajibade and then Uchenna Kanu late in the match, but could not avoid defeat. Thanks to these two results, Zambia and Malawi currently sit provisionally atop Group C.
Group D wrapped up this opening matchday on Wednesday. Ghana got its campaign off to a perfect start by beating Cape Verde, who were playing in their first-ever final tournament, 2-0. Doris Boaduwaa opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute, before an own goal from Cape Verdean defender Eleia Vieira sealed the Black Queens’ victory in the 54th minute. Cape Verde also finished the match with ten players, after Borges was sent off in stoppage time. In the other match of the evening, Cameroon tamed Mali by a score of 2 goals to 1, thanks to a brace from Marie Ngah, who scored once in the first half and then converted a decisive penalty in the 73rd minute, after Mali’s Aïssata Traoré had equalized, also from the penalty spot.
Attention now turns to Group A’s second matchday, scheduled for this Thursday, July 30. Two fixtures are on the program: at 7 p.m., Senegal, beaten in their opening match, will look to bounce back against Kenya, who also lost, at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium. Then, at 10 p.m., the eagerly awaited clash between Morocco and Algeria will close out the day at Moulay El Hassan Stadium, a match set to prove decisive for top spot in the group, with the host nation looking to build on its momentum in front of its home crowd, while Algeria will be seeking to confirm their impressive start.
With such a high level of competitiveness from the very first matchdays, this 14th edition of the Women’s AFCON is already confirming its status as a tournament well worth following closely, both for the continental title and for the precious qualifying spots for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil.
