Atlas Lionesses advanced into the WAFCON knockout stage

Morocco advanced to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage after defeating Senegal 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

For the second consecutive year, the host country will play in the tournament’s quarterfinals on home soil after finishing top in group A.

Senegal will aim to be one of the two top third-placed teams in group play to move on to the tournament’s final round after finishing just outside of the top two in group A. To find out their fate, they will need to wait for the outcomes of the other groups in the tournament.

Early on, Morocco demonstrated their determination when Senegalese goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye blocked Sakina Ouzraoui’s attempt in the sixth minute.

Nguenar Ndiaye was put in a dangerous position on the right side of the box in the sixteenth minute, but her attempt missed the mark and barely went over the goal’s face.

Late in the second half, Morocco was given a penalty when Adji Ndiaye, who had been given a yellow card for her reckless behavior in collecting the ball, smacked Ibtissam Jraïdi across her face.

Yasmin Mrabet gave the home team the lead in stoppage time of the first half by putting the ball into the top right corner from the penalty spot.

Senegal had a chance to tie the score in the 68th minute through a free kick, but Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi was unfazed by Marième Babou’s shot.

In the 69th minute, Jraïdi’s attempt from within the box went over the crossbar, denying the Atlas Lionesses an equalizer.

Senegal had a great chance to equalize on the counterattack in the 81st minute, but Hapsatou Diallo’s smooth finish was wasted when she misjudged her run and went offside.

Late into stoppage time, Chebbak came very close to scoring Morocco’s second goal with a spectacular chip over the goalie, but she was unable to break the offside trap, and her attempt was disallowed.