Algeria's national football team achieved a difficult victory against Niger with a 2-1 score in a friendly match on Tuesday. The match took place at the Hussein Ait Ahmed stadium in Tizi Ouzou, concluding the September-October training camp under the leadership of coach Ibrahim Hamdani. Hamdani faces significant work in repairing the team's defensive structure and regaining Algeria's football identity.
The match began unexpectedly with Niger taking the lead in the 12th minute through Konan Ndri, capitalizing on a swift counterattack. Despite dominating the first half, Algeria failed to equalize, ending the first half with Niger leading 1-0. The first half also saw an injury to Maza, who was substituted by the impressive Belaid.
In the second half, Hamdani introduced bold changes, including new players such as Adel Borrbessa, Ahmed Touba, and Zinedine Belaid in the midfield, alongside goalkeeper Abdellatif Ramadan, who got his first opportunity. In the 54th minute, Mohamed Belaid scored a stunning equalizer from a direct free kick, revitalizing Algeria's performance and boosting their morale after falling behind early.
Algeria sealed the win with a penalty kick by Ramy Ben Sebaini in the 73rd minute, following a foul in the penalty area. The match was officiated by an Egyptian refereeing team led by Mahmoud Ahmed Mohamed Bسيوني, assisted by Youssef Wahid Youssef El-Bassati and Ahmed Tawfik Talib Ali, with Mustafa Gharbal as the fourth referee.
This victory comes after two official performances in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Algeria tops Group Nine with four points, following a 3-1 win against Zambia and a 2-2 draw with Burundi. The team will face Togo in November for the third and fourth rounds. The match once again exposed a clear defensive fragility in the Algerian team despite the eventual 2-1 win.
The defensive line showed weakness in organization and coverage, particularly in dealing with counterattacks and crosses, along with inconsistency between the full-backs and center-backs. Even with new defensive combinations, including Ahmed Touba, Zinedine Belaid, and Saheb Nayer, concerns did not entirely disappear, making defense a primary focus for coach Ibrahim Hamdani and his technical staff before the Togo matches.
Conversely, Mohamed Beshir Belaid emerged as one of the positives, scoring a remarkable equalizing goal and displaying his ability to make a difference in crucial moments. His performance, consistent with his form at Hull City in the English league, positions him as a key player for Algeria, especially with the absence of some major names.
Key points
- Algeria's national team showed defensive vulnerabilities despite a 2-1 win against Niger in a friendly match.
- Mohamed Belaid's free kick goal was a highlight, showcasing his ability to impact the game positively.
- The team faces critical work on its defense ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.
