Algeria women's national football team

Algeria
Nickname(s)الأفناك  (The Fennecs)[1]
AssociationAlgerian Football Federation
Other affiliationUAFA (Arab Nations)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationUNAF (North Africa)
Head coachRadia Fertoul[2]
CaptainFatima Sekouane
Top scorerNaima Bouhani (13)
Home stadiumStade du 5 Juillet
FIFA codeALG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 79 7 (10 December 2021)[3]
Highest64 (June 2009)
Lowest125 (June 2013)
First international
 France 14–0 Algeria 
(Cesson-Sévigné, France; 14 May 1998)
Biggest win
 Algeria 14–0 Sudan 
(Algiers, Algeria; 20 October 2021)
Biggest defeat
 France 14–0 Algeria 
(Cesson-Sévigné, France; 14 May 1998)
Africa Women Cup of Nations
Appearances5 (first in 2004)
Best resultGroup Stage (2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)

The Algeria women's national football team (Arabic: منتخب الجزائر لكرة القدم للسيدات) represents Algeria in international women's football. The team is currently ranked 76th in the world in the FIFA women's rankings. The team's highest ranking was 64th, in June 2009.[4] The team plays its home games at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers and is coached by Radia Fertoul since August 2018. Algeria played its first match on May 14, 1998, against France, and lost 14–0.

Algeria has never qualified for a World Cup. It has qualified five times for the Africa Women Cup of Nations, in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, all finishing in group stage.

History

The beginning

The Algerian Football Federation was founded in 1962, after the Algerian Independence. It joined the CAF in 1963 and FIFA in 1964. By this time, no nation in the world had an official women's football team, instead they appeared in the 1970s. Algeria's first recorded match dates back on 1997. On 14 May 1998, the team played it first match against France in Cesson-Sévigné. The result was a heavy 0-14 defeat, which is still Algeria's worst result. Although the team was formed in 1997, a futsal team had played a game with Morocco in the same year, losing by 5–0.

In 2000, Algeria disputed its second game, facing Morocco in Casablanca on July 30, 2000, in a qualifier for the 2000 AWC in South Africa. They didn't score in the match and it ended in a 0-3 defeat. The second leg in Algiers on August 12 finished with a 1-3 loss. The aggregate score was 1-6.

The team was not registered on the qualifiers for the 2002 AWC, which took place in Nigeria.

In international competitions

In the 2003 All-Africa Games, as no qualifying took place, Algeria was invited to the first women's football tournament of the All-Africa Games, in Nigeria. The team was paired in Group B with South Africa, DR Congo and Mali. The results weren't favorable as they lost all three games they played by crushing defeats. The first match was with DR Congo on October 4. The final score was a 2-5 defeat. Three days later, on October 7, they were beaten by South Africa with a scoreline of 1-3. Without any opportunity to advance to the Semi-Finals, Algeria played its last match with Mali and lost with a result of 0-3.

In the 2004 African Women's Championship, the Algerian women's team qualified for the first championship in their history when they participated in the 2004 AWC, again held in South Africa. Algeria's only rival in the qualifying round was Mali. Their road to the Championship started on the 11th of July, as visitor. They drew with Mali 2–2. Bowhani and Zerrouki scored for Algeria. At home, Algeria won 1–0 thanks to Zerrouki's goal in the 15 minute. Algeria was drawn in Group B with Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali, who qualified as a lucky loser because both DR Congo and Gabon (who were scheduled to play together in the qualifiers) withdrew.

The team had its debut with Nigeria on September 19, but they couldn't surpass them, losing by the score of 0-4. The second game was with Mali on September 22, and they recorded a 3-0 victory, their only win in the tournament. Sedhane, Imloul and Naïma Laouadi scored for Algeria in this game. With a chance to advance to the Semi-Finals, Algeria played their last game, facing Cameroon. Algeria's Nabila Imloul scored the first goal of the match, putting the team ahead 1–0. But Cameroon scored in the 29 minute to equalize the game. The final result was a 1-3 loss, resulting in elimination from the tournament.

In 2006, Algeria was part of the only Arab Women's Championship to the date, held in Egypt in April 2006. Algeria was in Group B along with Lebanon and Morocco. Algeria had their best result of all of their games in the first match with Lebanon on April 19, when they won 12–0. The second match against Morocco on April 21, ended in a goalless draw. Algeria advanced to the Semi-Finals with 4 points. In the Semi-Finals, the team won 3–0 against their neighbor country, Tunisia, thus advancing to the Final match, with Morocco. Algeria won 1–0 with a goal from Lilia Boumrar, and became the Champions of the only edition of Arab Women's Championship.

In the 2006 AWC/2007 World Cup qualifiers in March, Algeria entered into a World Cup qualifier for the first time as the 2006 AWC also served as the qualification tournament for the 2007 World Cup. The first scheduled rival for Algeria was Libya, but for unknown reasons Libya withdrew. Algeria advanced by walkover to the second qualifying round. The second qualifying round rival was Northern Africa neighbors Egypt, who advanced to the Second Round by the withdrawal of Eritrea. The first leg, in Annaba on July 23, resulted in a 1-0 victory in favor of Algeria, produced by Zerrouki's goal in the 57th minute. The second leg was away, in Alexandria on August the 5th. Algeria defeated Egypt with a 3–0 result. The team qualified for the 7th edition of the African Women's Championship, originally scheduled to be held in Gabon, but ultimately held in Nigeria due to organizational issues. The draw determined that Algeria would be in Group A along with hosts Nigeria, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. The team didn't start well in the competition, as they lost the first game with South Africa 0-4. A worse result was registered in the second match, where Algeria faced the group favorites and 7-time champion of the tournament Nigeria. Algeria lost this match 0-6. The only point Algeria had in this edition was thanks to the last match, a 3–3 draw with Equatorial Guinea. Boumrar (one goal) and Bouhani (two goals) scored for Algeria in this match. Algeria failed to advance to the next stage and was eliminated from the 2007 Women's World Cup.

The 2007 All-Africa Games were held on home soil from July 10 to July 22. As hosts of the event, Algeria qualified automatically. They were drawn in Group B with Ghana and Senegal. They lost the first match with Ghana 1-2. They advanced to the Semi-Finals with a 3-1 victory over Senegal. The Semi-Final was with Nigeria, and ended in a 0-5 loss. Algeria then played the third place match against Ghana. The game ended in a 1-3 defeat, leaving Algeria with a fourth-place finish in the tournament.

The 2008 African Women's Championship was the second AWC that Algeria failed to qualify. The team played the First Round with Morocco and won with an aggregate score of 3–1, winning both legs by 1–0 and 2–1. Algeria advanced to the Second Round with Tunisia. The first leg in away soil, ended in a draw with no goals and the second (at home) resulted in a loss with the scoreline of 2–1. Algeria was eliminated and Tunisia qualified.

In the qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic Games, held in China, Algeria participated in the qualifiers, but didn't manage to get it. In the First Round, the Algerian team won 3–0 in the first leg with Mozambique and achieved one of the biggest wins in the second leg, by 9–1. The team advanced to the next round in where they faced Nigeria and won by 1–0, but had a loss in the second match by 6–0. Algeria were automatically eliminated after the aggregate score was 6–1.

In the 2009 UNAF Women's Tournament, Algeria participated in the only edition of the UNAF Women's Tournament in Tunisia in November 2009. The team finished second after drawing with Egypt 1–1 and lost 1–0 against Tunisia.

In the 2010 AWC/2011 World Cup qualifiers, Algeria entered for the second time in a World Cup qualifying round in the Preliminary Round of the 2010 AWC, against Egypt, but it later withdrew for unknown reasons. They advanced automatically to the First Round, in where they were drawn to play with Tunisia. The first leg was played in home soil on 22 May, in Koléa and the final result was 1–1. The goal for Algeria came in the extra time from Naïma Laouadi. In Tunis on 5 June, Algeria got its revenge for the last year loss, having a 1–0 victory. The aggregate result was 2–1 in favour of the Algerians, and thus, they qualified for the 2010 AWC in South Africa. In the Final tournament, Algeria's group was B, also the same of Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Ghana. The opening match with Ghana, resulted in 2–1 defeat, with the only goal being scored Ouadah at the first four mins. The team was winning 1–0 in the half-time. The second game, with the 2008 Champion Equatorial Guinea, finished in a 1–0 loss. With no chances of qualifying to the next round, Algeria's closing match was against Cameroon, and this last result was a 2–1 defeat. Naima Bouhani scored the only goal for them. The half-time had a 0–0 draw. Algeria ended eliminated from both the 2010 AWC and the 2011 World Cup.

In the 2011 All-Africa Games, Algeria entered the 2011 All-Africa Games football tournament qualifiers, but did not play any match as it was the only entry from the Zone 1 (North Africa). In the final tournament, the team was in the Group A, with Cameroon, Guinea and Mozambique. The first match had no goals from part of Algeria, but three of Cameroon, that did one defeat to them. Algeria beat Mozambique by 7–1 with goals of Meflah, Bouhani, Bekhedda, Marek and Yahi. The team did not play the game against Guinea, because it withdrew prior to playing the first match. Algeria advanced to the Semi-Finals, in where they lost with Ghana by the score of 3–0. The match for the bronze medal was the first victory to South Africa by 3–0. Zerrouki, Bouhani and Marek scored for Algeria and gave them the Bronze medal.

In the 2014 AWC/2015 World Cup qualifiers, after not entering the 2012 African Women's Football Championship qualification, Algeria registered in the 2014 qualifiers. This time, their rival was Morocco. In the first leg in Stade Omar Hamadi, Naima Bouhani shined for contributing to victory with 2 goals. Algeria defeated its neighbor country by 2–0. The second leg in Rabat resulted in a goalless draw. The aggregate result was 2–0, that made Algeria advance to the Second Round. Again in Stade Omar Hamadi, Algiers; Algeria received Tunisia in a chance to qualify to their fourth tournament. The goals of both teams were scored in the first time. The score was 2–1 in favour of the Algerians. Laifa and captain Sekouane scored. In Stade 15 Octobre, away soil; Algeria faced an aspirant Tunisia that tied the game in the half-time 2–2. Sekouane's goal at the 81 mins. put the match 3–2. Algeria qualified again with an aggregate score of 5–3. The draw on 19 July 2014 in Windhoek, Namibia (host nation) indicated that Algeria would be in the Group B with South Africa, Cameroon and Ghana. This was the second time in a row that Algeria was in the same group as Cameroon and Ghana. The first match marked the second win (and first) of the Algerian team in the tournament in 10 years (the last being the 3–0 to Mali in 2004), against Ghana with a 1–0 from Affak near to the end of the game. In the second game, they lost 2–0 to Cameroon. The last result, against South Africa, wasn't very good, as they lost by 5–1. Houria Affak again scored for the national team. All of its games were played on the Independence Stadium in Windhoek. Once more, Algeria didn't reached the World Cup.

Background and development

Women's football teams in the country have had to deal with killings around their matches.[5]

Team image

Kit suppliers

Kit providers Period
Cirta Sport 1998–2001
Baliston 2002–2004
Le Coq Sportif 2004–2009
Puma 2010–2014
Adidas 2015–present
1st Kit
2004 AWC
2006 AWC
2010 AWC
2014 AWC
2016 AWCON
2nd Kit
2004 AWC
2006 AWC
2010 AWC
2014 AWC
2016 AWCON

Home stadium

The Algeria women's national football team plays their home matches on the Stade du 5 Juillet.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture


2021

25 August 2021 Arab Women's Cup GS Group B Jordan  1–3  Algeria Cairo, Egypt
21:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Police Academy Stadium
Referee: Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia)
28 August 2021 Arab Women's Cup GS Group B Algeria  4–1  Palestine Cairo, Egypt
21:00 UTC+2
  • Benaichouche  24', 58', 86'
  • Bouhenni  80'
Report (SW)
  • Abedrabbo  57'
Stadium: Police Academy Stadium
Referee: Shahanda Saad Al-Maghraby (Egypt)
3 September 2021 Arab Women's Cup Semi-finals Algeria  2–2
(3–4 p)
 Tunisia Cairo , Egypt
21:00 UTC+2
Stadium: Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Shahanda Saad Al-Maghraby (Egypt)
Penalties
20 October 2021 (2021-10-20) 2022 AFWCON qualification 1st round 1st leg Algeria  14–0  Sudan Algiers, Algeria
18:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Omar Hamadi Stadium
Referee: Asma Chouchane (Tunisia)
Postponed[lower-alpha 1] 2022 AFWCON qualification 1st round 2nd leg Sudan  v  Algeria Omdurman, Sudan
Report Stadium: Al Hilal Stadium
Referee: Suzana Semere (Eritrea)
25 November Friendly Tunisia  0–1  Algeria Ariana , Tunisia
15:00 Report
  • Ould Braham  38'
Stadium: Ariana staduim
28 November Friendly Tunisia  2–4  Algeria Ariana , Tunisia
15:00
Report
  • Belkacemi  38'
  • Koui  40'
  • Taleb  42'
  • Adjabi  78'
Stadium: Ariana staduim

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Position Name Ref.
Head coach Radia Fertoul [7]
Assistant coach Farid Kebsi

Manager history

Years Name Ref.
Azzedine Chih 1998–2018 [8]
Radia Fertoul 2018–2019 [9]
Sonia Haziraj 2019
Kamel Betina 2019
Madjid Taleb 2019–2021 [10]
Radia Fertoul 2021–present [11]

Players

Current squad

    The following players were named for the Friendly match against  Tunisia on 25and 28 november 2021. [12]

    Caps and goals accurate up to and including 25 August 2021.

    No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
    1GK Asma Chaib adda Afak Relizane
    1GK Yasmina Dahes FC Constantine
    1GK Yamina Ngazi Chloe US Orléans

    3 2DF Wassila Alouache (2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 FC Akbou
    5 2DF Fatima Bara (vice-captain) (1990-02-21) 21 February 1990 ASE Alger Centre
    2 2DF Morgane Belkhiter (1995-11-23) 23 November 1995 Stade Brestois
    2 2DF Sarah Boudaoud (1996-09-28) 28 September 1996 US Orléans
    2 2DF Imane Chebel (1995-05-25) 25 May 1995 FC Fleury
    2 2DF Armelle Khellas (2001-06-25) 25 June 2001 ASPTT Albi
    2 2DF Sofia Guellati (1992-07-09) 9 July 1992 Rodez AF
    2 2DF Louisa Djemai le Puy Foot 43

    15 3MF Fethia Benkheda (1990-07-09) 9 July 1990 JF Khroub
    11 3MF Zineb Kendouci (1994-03-16) 16 March 1994 Afak Relizane
    2 3MF Lydia Belkacemi (1994-03-02) 2 March 1994 US Orléans
    2 3MF Myriam Benlazar (1995-06-09) 9 June 1995 AJ Auxerre
    2 3MF Sylia Koui (1992-07-27) 27 July 1992 Le Havre AC
    2 3MF Amira Ould Braham (1998-02-17) 17 February 1998 US Orléans
    3MF Ikram Bahri ASE Alger Centre

    19 4FW Naili Nihed Olympique lyonnais
    19 4FW Naïma Bouhenni (captain) (1985-10-23) 23 October 1985 Afak Relizane
    2 4FW Ikram Adjabi (1998-03-25) 25 March 1998 US Orléans
    4FW Laura Taleb Muller (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 ESOF Vendée La Roche
    10 4FW Imène Merrouche (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 FC Constantine
    19 4FW Khadidja Nefidssa ASE Alger Centre

    Recent call-ups

    The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.

    Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
    GK Chloé Ngazi (1996-09-06) 6 September 1996 US Orléans 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
    GK Aïcha Aguichari AS Sûreté nationale 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
    GK Kahina Taknint (1991-05-21) 21 May 1991 - - AS Sûreté Nationale 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    GK Amina Haleyi (1992-09-10) 10 September 1992 - - ASE Alger Centre 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    GK Lamiaa Lounas - - JF Khroub 2021 Arab Women's Cup

    DF Melina Haffaf (2001-07-14) 14 July 2001 OGC Nice 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
    DF Leatitia Akli - - ASE Alger Centre 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    DF Faouzia Bakli - - FC Constantine 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    DF Kelthoum Arbi Aouda (1987-09-25) 25 September 1987 - - Afak Relizane 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    DF Isma Ouadah (1983-01-19) 19 January 1983 - - AS Sûreté Nationale 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    DF Léa Abdou (1997-03-12) 12 March 1997 FC Vendenheim v. ??, 6 October
    DF Roselene Khezami (2001-09-02) 2 September 2001 US Saint-Malo v. ??, 6 October 2021

    MF Wissem Bouzid (2002-12-18) 18 December 2002 US Orléans 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
    MF Imene Merrouche (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 FC Constantine 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
    MF Lina Chabane (1997-04-14) 14 April 1997 - - Unattached 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    MF Mounia Houhèche (1992-11-05) 5 November 1992 - - AS Sûreté Nationale 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    MF Aïcha Hamidèche (2001-10-02) 2 October 2001 - - Afak Relizane 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    MF Abla Bensenouci (2000-12-22) 22 December 2000 - - FC Constantine 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    MF Lina Chabane (1997-04-14) 14 April 1997 Unattached 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    MF Lina Khelif (1997-01-27) 27 January 1997 US Saint-Malo v. ??, 6 October 2021
    MF Camélia Toumi (2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 US Saint-Malo v. ??, 6 October 2021

    FW Inès Chasseloup De Laubat (2001-07-26) 26 July 2001 OGC Nice v. ??, 6 October 2021
    FW Inès Seghiri (2002-10-09) 9 October 2002 FC Metz v. ??, 6 October 2021
    FW Inès Boutaleb (1998-10-08) 8 October 1998 Le Havre AC v. ??, 6 October 2021
    FW Ferial Daoui (1999-12-15) 15 December 1999 - - FC Constantine 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    FW Bachra Benhadda - - Afak Relizane 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    FW Madina Ramdani (1991-05-13) 13 May 1991 - - AS Sûreté Nationale 2021 Arab Women's Cup
    FW Rahma Benaichouche JF Khroub 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
    FW Kenza Hadjar (1992-12-24) 24 December 1992 AS Sûreté nationale 2022 AFWCON qualification First round

    INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
    PRE Preliminary squad.
    SUS Player is serving a suspension.
    WD Player withdrew for personal reasons.

    Previous squads

    Africa Women Cup of Nations
    UNAF Women's Tournament
    Arab Women's Cup

    Records

    *Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 25 August 2021.

    Competitive record

    Head-to-head record

    As of 3 November 2014
    Against Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD
     Cameroon4004210−8
     DR Congo100125−3
     Egypt522152+3
     Equatorial Guinea201134−1
     France1001014−14
     Ghana310225−3
     Ivory Coast200225−3
     Lebanon1100120+12
     Mali421165+1
     Morocco7421770
     Mozambique3300192+17
     Namibia100113−2
     Nigeria5104121−20
     Senegal5302107+3
     South Africa4004215−13
     Tunisia138232511+14
    Total612582899116−17

    Honours

    Bronze medal: (1): (2011)
    Runners-up: (1): (2009)
    Champions: (1): (2006)[13]

    See also

    •  Africa portal
    •  Sports portal
    •  Association football portal
    •  Women's association football portal

    Notes

    1. Originally to be played on 26 October 2021 at the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, the Sudan v Algeria match was postponed due to security concerns following the October 2021 Sudanese coup d'état.[6]

    References

    1. http://levuvuzela.net/foot-feminin-amical-algerie-cote-divoire-les-elephantes-dominent-les-fennecs-3-1/ 12 November 2015
    2. "Algerie Direct - Feel the real world".
    3. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
    4. "Algeria: FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
    5. Richard Giulianotti; David McArdle (2006). Sport, Civil Liberties and Human Rights. Routledge. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-7146-5344-0. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
    6. "Media Statement on TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations: Sudan vs Algeria". CAF. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
    7. "FERTOUL RETAINS 24 PLAYERS FOR ABIDJAN" (in French). CAF. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
    8. "Azzedine Chih quitte la FAF après 19 ans". dzfoot.com. M-A. D. 29 August 2018.
    9. "Radia Fertoul Nouvelle Sélectionneuse". DZBallon. Farid Kada Rabah. 31 August 2018.
    10. "Madjid Taleb à la tête de la sélection algérienne". aps.dz. 29 September 2019.
    11. "Radia Fertoul devenue la première sélectionneuse de l'EN féminine". tajasport.com. Osama Mohamed Emam. 31 August 2021.
    12. "EN Fem. : La liste des Vertes".
    13. "Championnat arabe dames: Le Maroc perd en finale face à l'Algérie". Le Matin (in French). 30 April 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.