Algeria’s national school football team endured a disappointing campaign at the 2025 CAF African School Football Championship, exiting the tournament without a single point after three consecutive defeats in the group stage.
Competing in Group A of the third edition of the competition held in Accra, Ghana, from April 23 to 26, the Algerian side began their campaign with a 2-0 loss to South Africa on Wednesday.
Hopes of a turnaround on Thursday were dashed, however, as the team failed to register a goal in their subsequent matches, suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Uganda in the morning and a 3-0 loss to hosts Ghana in the afternoon.
The matches were played at the University of Accra’s sports complex, where Algeria’s performances drew criticism and raised broader concerns about youth football development in the country.
Mohamed El Mahdi Behadid’s squad failed to find any rhythm throughout the tournament, conceding nine goals in total and scoring none.
These results mark a stark contrast to the ambition with which the team entered the tournament and have prompted questions over several aspects of the campaign.
Critics have pointed to issues ranging from the team’s selection process and tactical setup to the overall preparation for the event.
Despite the underwhelming outcome, the Algerian Football Federation has characterized the experience as a “formative” one, stressing the long-term value of international exposure for the players involved.
Still, the tournament served as a sobering reminder of the gap between Algeria and the continent’s leading school football nations.
Observers noted that the Algerian team appeared overwhelmed in both individual skill and tactical cohesion, particularly in the losses to Uganda and Ghana.
The broader results in Group A saw Ghana top the group after winning all three of their matches, including victories over Uganda (2-0), South Africa (1-0), and Algeria.
Uganda also impressed, defeating Algeria 4-0 and South Africa 4-1, while South Africa finished with a solitary win against Algeria.
In Group B, Senegal advanced with a strong showing, drawing against Tanzania (1-1) and Ivory Coast (0-0), while defeating DR Congo 2-0.
Tanzania also made their mark with a narrow 1-0 victory over DR Congo and a draw with Ivory Coast.
For Algeria, the early exit is likely to spark renewed debate about the development pipeline in youth football and the strategies necessary to close the growing gap with other African nations.
