A tense 0-0 draw between Senegal and Morocco at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Monday evening sealed the Lionesses of Teranga’s fate, confirming their early exit from the CAN Women’s 2026 tournament. Despite needing only a win to progress, Senegal’s women’s national team fell short against a determined Moroccan side.

The Moroccan squad, already guaranteed a quarter-final spot before kickoff, approached this match determined to maintain their flawless campaign and secure first place in the group. Under the guidance of head coach Mame Moussa Cissé, Senegal required victory to keep their qualification hopes alive, aiming to finish among the top two teams in the group.

The encounter unfolded with both sides displaying tactical discipline, creating few clear-cut chances. Morocco, fresh from back-to-back wins against Kenya (4-0) and Algeria (1-0), completed their group stage unbeaten and on top of the standings. For Senegal, the draw followed a mixed tournament performance that included an opening defeat to Algeria (0-2) and a narrow victory over Kenya (1-0)—insufficient to progress beyond the group stage.

The Lionesses of Teranga leave the competition at the first hurdle, marking another setback for a team that had set higher ambitions after reaching the quarter-finals in both 2022 and 2024 editions.