Algiers, October 28, 2024 – The Algerian women’s national football team will face off against Nigeria on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos (4:00 PM Algerian time), determined to bounce back after their 2-0 defeat in the first encounter last Saturday. This match is part of the team’s preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
In the previous match, Nigeria secured the win with goals from Rasheedat Ajibade in the 21st and 45+2 minutes, showcasing their strength as one of the continent’s top teams.
Speaking to the Algerian Football Federation’s (FAF) YouTube channel, national team coach Farid Benstiti reflected on the first match:
“We played against one of the best teams in the world, a team that has won the continental championship 11 times. Matches like these are essential to evaluate our players’ level. During the game, we made several changes, including introducing a new tactical system by using three defenders for the first time. This system may become an option in future games if we need to adopt a defensive block.”
For these back-to-back matches against Nigeria, Benstiti called up a 22-player squad, including four players from the national league.
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s game, the coach commented: “In the second match, we will give playing time to those who did not feature in the first game. We will also adjust our tactical setup since we now have better insight into our opponent.”
The Algerian team earned their spot in the 2024 WAFCON finals last December by defeating Burundi in both legs of their qualification tie, winning 5-1 and 1-0 at the July 5th Stadium in Algiers.
This year’s tournament marks the return of the Algerian women’s team to the continental stage after missing out on the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
According to the latest FIFA rankings published on August 16, 2024, Algeria currently ranks 84th globally, while Nigeria leads the African standings and is ranked 36th worldwide.
For further updates, visit DZWATCH.DZ.
Author: nor-eleslam
\ Algeria vs Nigeria Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024
