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The women’s national football team won Thursday evening at the Miloud-Hadefi Olympic stadium in Oran against their Cameroonian counterpart with a score of 2 to 1 (halftime: 2-0), in the first leg of the second and final round of qualifiers for the 16th African Cup of Nations (CAN 2026).
The Algerians quickly took the lead by opening the score in the 23rd minute, thanks to a magnificent direct free kick from Ghoutia Karchouni, taken around twenty meters from the opposing goal.
Twelve minutes later, at 35? minute, Cameroonian defender Claudia Dabda was sent off for a foul committed on the edge of the area on attacker Mélissa. The ensuing free kick was perfectly converted by Marine Dafeur, allowing Algeria to double the lead.
In the second half, despite their numerical superiority, Farid Benstiti’s players were unable to increase the score. The Cameroonians reduced the gap in added time thanks to a penalty converted by Njoya (90+3′).
Reduced to ten after the expulsion of Cameroonian defender Claudia Voulania Dabda (33rd), the visitors still managed to reduce the score in added time (90th+4), on a penalty converted by captain Nchout Njoya Ajara.
This success marks Algeria’s very first victory against Cameroon in official competition.
Farid Benstiti’s players will have to pull out all the stops to hope to qualify, during the return match scheduled for next Tuesday, at the Reunification stadium in Douala (3:30 p.m.).
Back on the continental scene after two absences, the Algerians signed in the last edition of 2024, contested in Morocco, their best historical run, reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Ghana (0-0, 2-4 on penalties).
This victory allows the Algerians to approach the return match, scheduled for next Tuesday in Douala, with a slight advantage in the race to qualify for CAN 2026.