The Algerian national team secured a confident 3-1 victory against Zimbabwe in a friendly match held at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The encounter served as crucial preparation for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers.
Les Verts delivered a strong performance, particularly in the first half, where they established a commanding 3-0 lead. Baghdad Bounedjah opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed by Mohamed Amoura in the 41st minute. Jaouen Hadjam capped off the first-half scoring spree with a well-placed shot in added time.
In the second half, Algeria maintained pressure and created several opportunities, notably a shot by Rayan Aït-Nouri that narrowly missed the target. Zimbabwe managed to pull one back late in the game, converting a penalty kick.
The friendly provided valuable opportunity for head coach Vladimir Petković to assess new players and refine his starting lineup as Algeria looks ahead to both African and international competitions. The coach will be looking to find the right formula to ensure a strong showing in the qualifiers and beyond.
Petković highlighted the importance of such matches in building team cohesion and tactical understanding. He expressed satisfaction with the players’ commitment and their ability to implement the game plan. The coaching staff will now analyze the match footage to identify areas for improvement ahead of the crucial AFCON qualifying campaign.
The victory provides a morale boost for the Algerian squad as they continue their preparations. Further friendly matches are expected to be scheduled in the coming months to fine-tune the team’s performance.
