MC Alger Women 57 – 63 Alges Women: Cup Upset as Visitors Storm to Quarter-Final Berth

In a fiercely contested Algeria Cup Women’s quarter-final on May 15, 2026, Alges Women produced a gritty road performance to defeat MC Alger Women 63-57 at the Salle Omnisports de Staouéli. The result sends Alges through to the semi-finals while ending the cup run of the heavily favored hosts, who had entered the tie as one of the competition’s form teams.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both sides demonstrated why they had reached this stage of the knockout tournament. MC Alger Women, known for their high-pressure full-court defense, sought to impose an early tempo. However, Alges Women responded with disciplined ball movement and patient shot selection, weathering the storm. The first quarter ended in a tight 14-13 advantage for the visitors, setting the tone for a back-and-forth affair.

Key Moments

• First half control: Alges Women extended their lead to 32-26 by halftime, capitalizing on a 9-2 run in the second quarter. Their frontcourt duo of Amina Benali and Fatima Zohra combined for 14 points in the opening two periods, consistently finding gaps in the MC Alger zone.
• MC Alger’s third-quarter surge: The hosts roared back in the third period, sparked by guard Sarah Bouzidi’s three-point shooting. A 12-3 run gave MC Alger a 43-40 lead with 4:17 left in the quarter, silencing the Alges bench.
• Decisive fourth quarter: Alges Women regained composure in the final frame. With the score tied at 50-50 entering the fourth, they outscored MC Alger 13-7, including a critical 6-0 stretch in the last three minutes. A steal and fast-break layup by point guard Leila Messaoudi with 1:23 remaining gave Alges a 60-55 lead and effectively sealed the game.

Tactical Story

MC Alger Women’s usual fast-break offense was largely neutralized by Alges’ disciplined transition defense, which forced the hosts into half-court sets. Alges also excelled on the offensive glass, grabbing 14 rebounds, leading to 12 second-chance points. MC Alger struggled from beyond the arc, converting only 4 of 18 three-point attempts (22%), while Alges shot a respectable 6 of 14 (42.9%) from deep.

Standout Players

Leila Messaoudi (Alges Women) – The point guard orchestrated the offense beautifully, finishing with 14 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Her composure in the closing minutes was invaluable.

Fatima Zohra (Alges Women) – Dominated the paint with 16 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double that set the foundation for her team’s victory.

Sarah Bouzidi (MC Alger Women) – Led all scorers with 18 points, including three three-pointers, but received insufficient support from her teammates.

Impact on the Competition

With this result, Alges Women advance to the Algeria Cup semi-finals, where they will face either GS Pétroliers Women or CS Constantine Women. For MC Alger Women, the early exit is a major disappointment given their strong domestic season. The loss underscores the unpredictability of knockout basketball and leaves Alges as a dangerous underdog capable of challenging for the trophy.

Match details: Algeria Cup Women Quarter-Final – Salle Omnisports de Staouéli, Algiers – Attendance: approximately 1,200