Algeria national football team
In 1956, in Tunis, Tunisia, the first team representing Algeria was formed. The Armée de Libération Nationale team led by Ahmed Benelfoul and Habib Draoua played its first game on the 1st of June 1957 against Tunisia in the Stade Chedly Zouiten. This squad operated under the approval of the FLN in May 1957 and was managed by Salah Saidou with Abdelkader Zerrar as captain. The French authorities easily obtained non-recognition of the team by FIFA during this period. In April 1958, the original team dissolved and was replaced by the FLN football team. These early squads consisted mainly of professional players in France who joined the Algerian independence movement. They used Pan-Africanism as a legitimizing tool to link African football to anti-colonial resistance. All matches were considered friendlies and remained unrecognized by international bodies until after independence. Football in Algeria had been established in the 1930s by European settlers bringing the sport to the country. The official national team emerged in 1962 after gaining independence from France as the successor to the FLN football team. During a press conference in Tunis, the Algerian football team refused to make any political statements about their status. They referred to football strictly as a sport rather than a political influence despite the context of revolution. After the Algerian national football team received official recognition by FIFA in 1963, they qualified for the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations. The team failed to qualify for the next five editions of the AFCON following that initial appearance.
Algeria caused one of the greatest World Cup upsets on the first day of the tournament with a 2, 1 victory over defending European champions West Germany. This match occurred during the 1982 FIFA World Cup when the North African side defeated the favorites. In the final group match between West Germany and Austria, both teams knew a specific result would determine qualification. A West German win by one or two goals would qualify them both while a larger victory would eliminate Algeria. Chants of Fuera, fuera screamed by the Spanish crowd reflected the tension surrounding the match. Angry Algerian supporters waved banknotes at the players after Horst Hrubesch scored through a goal in the opening ten minutes. The performance was widely deplored even by West German and Austrian fans who watched the aimless kicking continue. Algeria protested to FIFA regarding the outcome but the ruling allowed the result to stand. FIFA introduced a revised qualification system at subsequent World Cups where the final two games were played simultaneously. Algeria reached the round of sixteen in 2014 for the first time after playing Russia on the 26th of June. They eliminated South Korea 4, 2 becoming the first team to score four goals in a single match at the World Cup. Islam Slimani equalized against Russia to carry Algeria to the second round before elimination in extra time by Germany. Sofiane Feghouli scored Algeria's first World Cup goal in 28 years giving his team a 1, 0 lead against Belgium. Djamel Zidane remained the only Algerian scorer during the 1986 competition which included losses to Brazil and Spain.
Algeria hosted the 1990 AFCON and won their first continental title with a crowd of 105,302 fans at Chérif Oudjani stadium. They defeated Nigeria 5, 1 and Ivory Coast 3, 0 before reaching the final rematch against Nigeria. The Desert Foxes won the tournament again in Egypt in 2019 after defeating Senegal 1, 0 in the final. Baghdad Bounedjah scored the only goal of that game while Riyad Mahrez provided a dying minute free kick shot against Nigeria in the semi-finals. This victory made Algeria the second North African side after Egypt to win multiple AFCON trophies. The team finished fourth in the 2010 African Cup of Nations after qualifying for the finals for the third time in history. A stunning goal from Anthar Yahia secured qualification for South Africa through a playoff game played in Sudan in November 2009. In 2014, they qualified for the World Cup after being eliminated from the 2013 AFCON following two matches by defeating Burkina Faso on an aggregate play-off. The national team suffered a defeat to Equatorial Guinea ending their 35-game unbeaten streak during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. That loss occurred just two games away from the record held by Italy. Despite early exits in recent years, the squad topped Group C in 2019 qualification with wins over Benin and Gambia.
Algeria maintains rivalries with Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia as part of competitive relationships defining North African football politics. Matches have been played regularly against Nigeria especially throughout the 1980s due to shared regional dynamics. Mali represents another long-standing competitive rivalry stemming from the nations sharing a common border. Senegal has also become a frequent opponent in high-stakes encounters including the 2019 final where Baghdad Bounedjah scored the winner. Algeria defeated Morocco 1, 0 at home after Hassan Yebda scored but lost 4, 0 to them in the return leg during the 2010-13 period. A playoff game was played in Sudan in November 2009 with the winner qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa. Algeria won that match 1, 0 thanks to Anthar Yahia's stunning goal while finishing ahead of Senegal, Gambia, and Liberia in their group. The team faced Nigeria again in the 2019 AFCON semi-finals winning 2, 1 before facing Senegal once more in the final. In 2025, they qualified for the FIFA World Cup after topping their group which included matches against various opponents.
At the time of Algeria's independence in 1962, the team primarily played at the 20th of August 1955 Stadium in Algiers and the Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran. Following the construction of the 5th of July 1962 stadium in Algiers in 1972, it became the team's main venue for decades. Other stadiums have also hosted the Fennecs including Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine and the 19th of May 1956 Stadium in Annaba. Akid Lotfi Stadium in Tlemcen and Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida served as additional home grounds throughout history. Since 2022, the national team has mainly played in newly opened stadiums such as Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Bir El Djir, Oran. Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, Algiers and the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou now host international matches regularly. Unlike many national teams, the Fennecs do not have a designated national stadium but play in numerous venues across the country. The Algerian Football Federation governs the team which plays their home matches at these various locations depending on availability.
Aïssa Mandi is Algeria's most capped player with 115 appearances between 2014 and present while scoring seven goals. Riyad Mahrez follows closely with 111 caps and 37 goals during his career spanning from 2014 to today. Islam Slimani holds the record for top goalscorers with 45 goals across 104 caps from 2012 to present. Lakhdar Belloumi earned 100 caps and scored 28 goals between 1978 and 1989 before retiring from international football. Rabah Madjer accumulated 86 caps and 28 goals during his tenure from 1978 to 1992. Baghdad Bounedjah has contributed 35 goals in 86 caps since joining the squad in 2013. Sofiane Feghouli recorded 82 caps and 19 goals over eight years from 2012 to 2020. Abdelhafid Tasfaout scored 36 goals in 80 caps between 1990 and 2002. The team's current head coach Vladimir Petković leads a squad that includes players like Raïs M'Bolhi who made 96 appearances without scoring any goals.
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Common questions
When was the first team representing Algeria formed and who led it?
The first team representing Algeria was formed in 1956 in Tunis, Tunisia. The Armée de Libération Nationale team was led by Ahmed Benelfoul and Habib Draoua.
What happened during the 1982 FIFA World Cup match between West Germany and Austria involving Algeria?
Algeria caused one of the greatest World Cup upsets with a 2 to 1 victory over defending European champions West Germany on the first day of the tournament. A subsequent result between West Germany and Austria allowed both teams to qualify while eliminating Algeria despite their earlier win.
Which stadium became the main venue for the Algerian national football team after 1972?
Following the construction of the 5th of July 1962 stadium in Algiers in 1972, it became the team's main venue for decades. Other stadiums have also hosted matches including Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine and the 19th of May 1956 Stadium in Annaba.
Who is the most capped player for the Algerian national football team and how many goals did they score?
Aïssa Mandi is Algeria's most capped player with 115 appearances between 2014 and present while scoring seven goals. Islam Slimani holds the record for top goalscorers with 45 goals across 104 caps from 2012 to present.
When did the official national team emerge and when was it recognized by FIFA?
The official national team emerged in 1962 after gaining independence from France as the successor to the FLN football team. The team received official recognition by FIFA in 1963 before qualifying for the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations.