2025 Arab Cup: Madjid Bougherra uses Palestine friendlies to reinforce Algeria A’ team discipline

Algeria’s A’ national team experienced contrasting fortunes in their October friendlies against Palestine, winning the first 3–0 before falling 1–0 in the second encounter at the May 19, 1956 Stadium in Annaba.

Madjid Bougherra’s side impressed in the opening match on Thursday, comfortably overcoming Palestine with a dominant display.

However, the return fixture told a different story as Ehab Abou Jazar’s men responded strongly, sealing a narrow victory despite spending long spells under Algerian pressure.

The decisive moment came in the 38th minute when Zayd Elkanbari capitalised on a defensive mix-up between goalkeeper Mohamed Idir Haddid and defender Zakaria Benchaâ to score the game’s only goal.

The lapse underlined several weaknesses in Algeria’s setup, where individual efforts often overshadowed collective play.

Tactical tests and squad rotation

For Bougherra, the two matches were an opportunity to experiment ahead of the FIFA Arab Cup – Qatar 2025, scheduled from 1 to 18 December.

Speaking after the game, the coach emphasised that the camp had been more of a reminder of the rules for his players, pointing to the importance of discipline and teamwork.

The October camp allowed Bougherra to rotate his squad extensively, fielding different line-ups across both games.

Against Palestine in the second leg, he made several changes, including eight substitutions during the match.

Defender Ayoub Ghezala was absent due to family reasons, while Ilyes Chetti had to be replaced late on after sustaining an injury.

The coach’s experimental approach reflected his intent to assess depth and versatility within the group.

Players such as Abderaouf Benguit, Zakaria Draoui, and Abderrahmane Meziane were all given minutes, while others like Amir Sayoud and Adil Boulbina came off the bench to stake their claims.

Eyes on the Arab Cup

With one final camp scheduled for November, Bougherra will soon finalise his squad for the Arab Cup.

The technical staff are expected to bring in reinforcements from a broader pool of players, potentially including experienced names such as Yacine Brahimi, Adam Ounas, and veteran goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi.

Despite the defeat, Bougherra remained optimistic, viewing the two matches as a valuable learning exercise.

The former Algeria captain believes the experience will help refine tactics and strengthen unity before the team embarks on its campaign in Qatar.