Algeria's women's national football team is set to face Central African Republic in the second round of African qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Coach Farid Benstiti has announced a 26-player squad for the double-header matches on October 9 and 13, 2026. The team has been preparing for the qualifiers after their impressive performance in the 2026 Africa Women Cup of Nations (CAN).
The team's squad includes a mix of experienced and new players. In goal, Chloé Yamina N’Gazi, Amina Haley, and Amel Bernabdallah have been called up. The defense will feature Mélline D’Oria, Célina Ould Hocine, Ouassila Alouache, Morgane Belkhiter, Inès Belloumou, Emma Sahrina Smaali, Lana Smits Ouraghi, and Sarah Compaoré.
The midfielders include Melissa Bethi, Wissem Bouzid, Lina Boussaha, Sofia Bekhaled, Nesrine Bahlouli, Amira Ould Braham, Marine Dafeur, Anaïs Oularbi, and Aïcha Hamideche. The attacking lineup features Laura Taleb Muller, Ikram Adjabi, Lynda Bendris, Célia Aggoune, Inès Khiri, and Nouhed Nail.
Four new players will make their debut for the Algerian team: Célina Ould Hocine, Sarah Compaoré, Nesrine Bahlouli, and Anaïs Oularbi. Notably, Oularbi has previous experience with the Algerian youth teams. Their inclusion brings fresh talent to the team, which has been performing well in recent competitions.
Algeria's women's team had a remarkable run in the 2026 CAN, where they reached the semifinals before losing to Malawi (1-3). They secured third place by defeating Morocco in a penalty shootout (1-1, 3-2 t.a.b.). This performance also earned them a historic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
The team's upcoming matches against Central African Republic will be crucial in their Olympic qualification campaign. The games are scheduled for October 9 and 13, 2026, at 18h00. The team's coach, Farid Benstiti, will be looking to build on their recent successes and make a strong impression in the qualifiers.
Algeria's women's football team has been making significant strides in recent years. Their qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and their performance in the 2026 CAN have brought attention to the team's growth and potential. The addition of new players will likely bring fresh energy to the team as they prepare for the Olympic qualifiers.
Key points
- Algeria's women's football team has called up 26 players for the Olympic qualifiers against Central African Republic.
- Four new players will make their debut for the Algerian team: Célina Ould Hocine, Sarah Compaoré, Nesrine Bahlouli, and Anaïs Oularbi.
- Algeria's women's team secured a historic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil after their performance in the 2026 CAN.
