What happened?
Senegal and Morocco secured crucial wins in the WAFCON 2026 quarterfinals, while Kenya suffered a second consecutive defeat. The Lionesses of Teranga edged Kenya 1-0, while Morocco defeated Algeria 1-0 to boost their hopes of advancing to the semifinals.
Why it matters for South Africa
What comes next?
Senegal's victory marked a strong response from the Lionesses of Teranga after their defeat to Algeria and leaves them well placed heading into their final group match against hosts Morocco. The victory was sealed by Seynabou Mbengue's first-half strike, which gave Kenyan goalkeeper Lilian Awuor no chance. Kenya's hopes of reaching the knockout stage now depend on the final round of fixtures after suffering a second consecutive defeat.
In the day's other Group A fixture, Sanaa Mssoudy scored a late winner as Morocco defeated Algeria 1-0 to make it two wins from two at the tournament. Both sides entered the North African derby on the back of opening victories, with Morocco having beaten Kenya 4-0 and Algeria overcoming Senegal 2-0. The significance of the contest was evident from the opening whistle as both teams adopted a cautious approach in a physical and tactical battle. Algeria frustrated the hosts for long periods with a disciplined defensive display, limiting Morocco's attacking opportunities while remaining organised throughout the first half. The intensity of the contest also produced several bookings, with Algeria's Ikram Adjabi and Ines Belloumou cautioned alongside Morocco's Hanane Ait El Haj before the interval. Morocco increased the pressure after the break, and head coach Jorge Vilda turned to his bench by introducing experienced captain Ghizlane Chebbak after Ibtissam Jraidi had earlier entered the game. The changes eventually paid off in the 84th minute when Mssoudy finally broke Algeria's resistance, scoring the decisive goal to send the home supporters into celebration. Algeria searched for a late equaliser, but Morocco defended resolutely to preserve their slender advantage and complete a second successive win.
As of August 1, 2026, South Africa sits 2nd in the World Cup with 4 points, 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss from 3 games, recent form LWDL. The team has scored 2 goals and conceded 3, resulting in a goal difference of -1. South Africa is 5 points behind leaders Mexico in the title race. The team's last result was a 0-1 loss to Canada on June 28, 2026. South Africa's recent form has been LWDDL, with the most recent result being a 1-0 loss to Canada. The team is looking to bounce back from this loss and secure a spot in the knockout stage.
