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| Algeria national football team | |
|---|---|
| Name | Algeria |
| Association | Algerian Football Federation |
| Confederation | Confederation of African Football (CAF) |
| Coach | Djamel Belmadi |
| Captain | Riyad Mahrez |
| Most caps | Rabah Madjer (87) |
| Top scorer | Islam Slimani (40) |
| Home stadium | Stade du 5 Juillet |
| Fifa trigramme | ALG |
| Fifa max | 15 |
| Fifa max date | December 2014 |
| Fifa min | 103 |
| Fifa min date | October 2009 |
| Pattern la1 | _alg20h |
| Pattern b1 | _alg20h |
| Pattern ra1 | _alg20h |
| Leftarm1 | FFFFFF |
| Body1 | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm1 | FFFFFF |
| Shorts1 | 029E77 |
| Socks1 | FFFFFF |
Algeria national football team represents Algeria in men's international association football and is governed by the Algerian Football Federation. The team competes in tournaments organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Algeria has produced notable internationals who starred in European club competitions such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1.
Algeria's modern international beginnings followed independence from France in 1962, with early fixtures involving Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroon. The national side rose to continental prominence by winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990 on home soil, defeating Nigeria in a tournament that showcased players from domestic clubs like JS Kabylie and MC Alger. Algeria's first FIFA World Cup appearance came in 1982 in Spain, where a historic victory over West Germany produced the controversial Disgrace of Gijón aftermath that influenced tournament regulations. Subsequent World Cup campaigns included 1986 in Mexico, 2010 in South Africa, and a breakthrough round-of-16 run in 2014 in Brazil, highlighted by wins against South Korea and South American opponents while featuring players performing at FC Porto, Aston Villa, and Leicester City.
Algeria traditionally plays major home matches at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers and has staged fixtures at Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida and regional venues such as Stade 19 Mai 1956 in Annaba. Home colors feature green and white reflecting the national flag, with kits manufactured by global suppliers who have included Adidas, Puma, and Kappa. Iconic match shirts worn by figures like Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi are preserved in museum exhibits and club chronologies tied to JS Kabylie and USM Alger.
The team's nickname, "Les Fennecs", references the Fennec Fox of the Sahara and is used alongside emblems incorporating the crescent and star from the Flag of Algeria. Algeria's highest FIFA ranking of 15 followed a successful period under coach Vahid Halilhodžić, while the lowest ranking occurred during transitional years prior to the appointment of Rabah Saâdane. Record appearance makers and goalscorers include veterans who plied their trade at Sporting CP, Olympique Lyonnais, and Real Madrid Castilla. Algeria's continental honours include the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations title and multiple African Nations Championship participations, while individual awards feature selections to CAF Team of the Year rosters and nominations for African Footballer of the Year.
Coaching has varied from domestic tacticians to foreign managers such as Vahid Halilhodžić, Antoine Kombouaré and Georges Leekens. Current head coach Djamel Belmadi led the team to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title, guided by a core of internationals like Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli, Youcef Atal, and Yacine Brahimi. Emergent talents have been scouted from academies linked to Paradou AC and European youth systems like AS Monaco FC and Ajax Amsterdam. The technical staff typically includes assistants, fitness coaches, and goalkeeping coaches with experience at Ligue 1 and Serie A clubs.
Algeria's World Cup qualification record includes appearances in 1982, 1986, 2010, and 2014, with the best performance reaching the round of 16 in 2014. In the Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria won in 1990 and 2019 and reached multiple semi-finals against opponents such as Egypt and Cameroon. The team also competed in regional competitions like the Arab Nations Cup and the Mediterranean Games, facing opponents from North Africa and across West Africa and Central Africa.
Youth development structures include under-age national teams such as Algeria national under-23 football team, Algeria national under-20 football team, and Algeria national under-17 football team, which participate in U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and U-20 World Cup qualification pathways. Academies such as USM Alger academy and Paradou AC academy collaborate with European clubs for talent exchanges, producing players who move to Eredivisie and Belgian Pro League clubs. Algeria's women's national team competes in CECAFA competitions and Arab Women's Cup qualifiers, with efforts to expand domestic leagues and coaching under federative initiatives supported by CAF programs.
Broadcasting partners in Algeria and the Maghreb televise matches, while coverage in France and Belgium follows the diaspora fanbase. Supporters include ultras groups affiliated with clubs like MC Alger and JS Kabylie, who travel to derbies and international fixtures. Major rivalries feature encounters with Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, reflecting historical, cultural, and regional dynamics played out in qualifiers and Africa Cup of Nations clashes. High-profile friendly matches have been staged against Brazil and Argentina for fundraising and exposure.
Category:African national football teams Category:Football in Algeria