The Algerian national football team faces Saudi Arabia today, Tuesday, at 17:30 local time at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah for their second and final friendly match of November. This encounter serves as crucial preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
This match follows Algeria’s 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe five days prior and represents the last opportunity for Coach Vladimir Petkovic to assess his players before announcing the final squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Saudi team, under the guidance of coach Herve Renard, secured a significant 1-0 victory against reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, last Friday.
Speaking about the anticipated match, Coach Petkovic stated, “We are facing a team that employs a different style of play, which provides us with an opportunity to better prepare and further evaluate the players’ level before selecting the best among them for the continental tournament.”
This test comes amidst the absence of several key players due to injuries, including Ramy Bensebaini, Hicham Boudaoui, Fares Chaibi, and Amine Amoura.
Saudi Arabia’s coach, Herve Renard, commented, “I chose to play against Algeria because we need to play against strong teams. Algeria is a sharp and excellent team, and this type of match helps us develop. Playing against big teams like Algeria and Ivory Coast contributes to improving our readiness before major competitions like the World Cup.”
Historically, today’s match marks the fifth encounter between the two national teams, with their last meeting dating back to 1986. All previous matches have been friendlies held in Saudi Arabia, with a balanced record of one win each and two draws.
Following this match, the Algerian team will return home to prepare for the final training camp in December, potentially held at the regional technical center in Tlemcen, in anticipation of finalizing the squad for the continental competition. Les Verts enter the match on a positive streak, undefeated in their last five games. Their last defeat was on June 10 against Sweden (4-3) in a friendly match, which makes this friendly against Saudi Arabia a crucial test for the team.
