Oran – The Algerian national football team arrived in Oran on Wednesday in preparation for their match against Somalia, scheduled for Thursday at 5:00 PM at the “Miloud Hadefi” stadium. This match is part of the ninth round of Group 7 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
At the Ahmed Ben Bella International Airport, the team was welcomed by Oran’s governor, Samir Chebbani, accompanied by the director of youth and sports for the province, Adel Tejar.
The players, including young star Ibrahim Mazé, joined their accommodation in Oran amid an atmosphere of enthusiasm and optimism, just one day away from a decisive moment in Algerian football history. The team aims to secure their ticket to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Algerian team will hold a training session on Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM, the same time as the upcoming match, on the main pitch of the Miloud Hadefi Sports Complex in Oran.
The local authorities in Oran have taken all necessary measures to ensure the event runs smoothly. About 40,000 tickets were sold within one day of their release last Monday via the “Tazkirti” platform, according to the Youth and Sports Directorate.
The Somalia vs Algeria match will be officiated by a four-member refereeing team from Malawi, led by main referee Godfrey Philip Nchakangana, with assistants Clemens Kandoko and Bundamali Timbo, and David Chinoko as the fourth official.
