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WAFCON: Senegal set eyes on toppling Kenya after false start
27th July, 2026 09:24 AM
Senegalese forward Dieynaba Ndaw has declared that the Lionesses of Teranga are fully determined to make amends and return to winning ways following a disappointing start to their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign.
The West Africans fell 2–0 to Algeria in their opening match in Rabat on Sunday and now face a high-stakes encounter against Kenya on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
The fixture carries immense pressure for both sides, as Kenya also requires a positive result following their 4–0 opening defeat to host nation Morocco to keep their hopes alive before heading into their final group fixture against Algeria on August 3, 2026.
The hosts executed a clinical attacking display and precision delivery to sink the Kenyan courtesy of Ibtissam Jraïdi.
The attacker claimed the match’s individual performance with a stylish brace to compound matters for the Beldine Odemba team.
Encouraging performance
Reflecting on their opening fixture, Ndaw emphasised that despite the loss, the squad produced encouraging spells of play.
“We did not get the result, but we showed positive signs and genuine promise. We are fully determined to bounce back with a strong performance and positive result in our next games,” Ndaw stated.
She remains confident in the squad’s quality as they target a place in the knockout stages: “We have a talented squad with a great mix of experienced leaders and young players. We know what we are capable of and carry total confidence into this next match.”
Algeria’s sets sights on top spot
On the opposing side, Algerian forward Melissa Bethi, who capped off Algeria’s victory with an 88th-minute strike following a defensive mix-up, credited team cohesion for their winning start. She affirmed that the Desert Queens are focused on building momentum through the group phase.
“It was a solid performance from the whole team; we truly fought for it. Every time we step onto the pitch, our goal is all three points, and we will carry that exact mindset into our next match,“ Bethi asserted.
