Algeria's Women Win Bronze at Africa Cup of Nations
Listen to the story
Algeria's women's national football team, nicknamed the "Vertes" (the Greens), has won bronze at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2026.
The team secured third place by beating Morocco in a dramatic third-place playoff. The result was described as a surprise, since Morocco was seen as the stronger side.
The match had a wild ending. In the 97th minute, Morocco had a chance to win with a penalty kick, but the player missed it.
Because the score stayed level, the match went to a penalty shootout. Algeria managed to score more penalties than Morocco and claimed the bronze medal.
This victory is being called a historic moment for women's football in Algeria. Local media say it "opens a new page" for the sport in the country.
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations is the top continental competition for women's national teams in Africa. It takes place every two years and features the best teams from across the continent.
For Algerian football, medals at major tournaments have been rare in the women's game, so this bronze is seen as an important step forward and a source of national pride.
Vocabulary10 words
- bronze
- a prize for finishing third
- third-place playoff
- a match played to decide who finishes third
- penalty kick
- a free shot at goal from close range
- penalty shootout
- a series of penalty kicks used to find a winner
- continental
- relating to a whole continent, like Africa
- dramatic
- full of exciting or surprising moments
- historic
- important in history
- medal
- a prize for a top result in sport
- national team
- a team that plays for a whole country
- pride
- a good feeling about something you or your country did
Quiz
Answer key
1. The bronze medal 2. Morocco missed a penalty 3. Penalty shootout
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Algeria's women's national football team, nicknamed the "Vertes" (the Greens), has won _____ at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2026.
The team secured third place by beating _____ in a dramatic third-place _____. The result was described as a surprise, since Morocco was seen as the stronger side.
The match had a wild ending. In the 97th minute, Morocco had a chance to win with a _____ kick, but the player missed it.
Because the score stayed level, the match went to a penalty _____. Algeria managed to score more penalties than Morocco and claimed the bronze medal.
This victory is being called a _____ moment for women's football in Algeria.
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations is the top _____ competition for women's national teams in Africa.
For Algerian football, medals at major tournaments have been rare in the women's game, so this bronze is seen as a source of national _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think winning this bronze medal is being called a 'new page' for Algerian women's football?
- How do you think it felt for the Moroccan player who missed the penalty in the 97th minute?
- Penalty shootouts are often called stressful for players. Why do you think that is?
- Do you think surprising results like this help grow interest in women's football? Why or why not?