Mediterranean Games: U21 Squad Qualifies for Last Four

The Algerian U21 national football team has officially secured its place in the semi-finals of the Mediterranean Games 2026 football tournament. This significant achievement comes after the squad, led by coach Brahim Hemdani, delivered a decisive 3-1 victory against host nation Italy in Taranto. The win marks Algeria's second consecutive success in Group B, building on their initial 2-1 triumph over Kosovo.

In the match against Italy, Algeria demonstrated strong offensive play. Lahlou Akhrib of JS Kabylie opened the scoring in the 18th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. Although Italy managed to equalize in the 65th minute through an own goal by captain Issam Abdelhamid Naïm, the Algerian side quickly regained control. Ben Ahmed Kohili of MC Alger, who had also scored in the previous match, netted Algeria's second goal in the 79th minute, followed by a third from substitute Mohamed Bouderbala of USM Alger in the 87th minute, sealing the victory.

With this victory, Algeria's U21 team now stands firmly at the top of Group B. While some reports noted a difference in age composition between the two teams, with Italy featuring younger players, this distinction did not detract from the quality and determination displayed by the Algerian squad. The team is set to play its final group stage match against Albania on August 26, where they will aim to confirm their top position ahead of the semi-final fixtures. This successful run underscores the talent and potential within Algerian youth football on an international stage, having achieved six goals across two matches and secured consecutive victories.