Senegal kept alive their hopes of reaching the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over unlucky Kenya in Morocco on Thursday.
France-based Seynabou Mbengue scored the crucial goal on 35 minutes in Rabat to give the west Africans maximum points after losing their opening Group A match against Algeria.
Senegal bounce back to make things interesting in Group A 😏🇸🇳#SSFootball | #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/OF9OYfL9bX
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 30, 2026
Morocco and Algeria meet later at another stadium in the Moroccan capital. Both already have three points after victories over Kenya and Senegal respectively last Sunday.
Group winners and runners-up advance to the knockout stage of the first WAFCON featuring 16 teams – up from 12 qualifiers at the previous edition.
Senegal, seeking to reach the quarterfinals in three consecutive WAFCON tournaments, had the edge in the opening half and deservedly led 1-0 at halftime.
A smart pass from midfield set Ndeye Casset clear down the left flank and she cut inside before passing across the goalmouth to Mbengue, whose shot beat Lilian Awour at her near post.
The Lionesses of Teranga 🤩🇸🇳
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 30, 2026
Seynabou Mbengue scores one of the best team goals of the tournament so far 👏#SSFootball | #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/UyDIXCl2BU
Awour prevented Casset doubling the lead as halftime approached by pushing a shot from the Senegalese on to the post and away to safety.
Kenya took control of the second half with captain Mwanalima Jereko and Tereza Engesha outstanding, only to deprived by the woodwork three times.
Midway through the half of one of the most entertaining of the nine group matches so far, Euphrasier Shilwatso struck the bar, then Engesha hit the rebound against the post.
Engesha saw another shot rebound off the post and it ran loose to Jereko, whose attempt was blocked by Senegal goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye.
Defeat left Kenya still seeking a first point in WAFCON tournaments. They lost all three matches at the 2016 edition in Cameroon, and have failed twice in Morocco.