AFCON 2025: Algeria settle into Sidi Moussa camp as countdown to continental challenge begins

Algeria have formally set their Africa Cup of Nations preparations in motion after the national team assembled on Monday at the country’s technical centre in Sidi Moussa, marking the start of an intensive build-up to the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

The opening day signalled the first concrete step in Vladimir Petkovic’s plans, with a number of international players already reporting for duty.

Their early arrival allowed the coaching staff to begin structured work immediately, even as the full squad continues to take shape.

Training sessions were organised from the outset, with an emphasis on physical conditioning, restoring match rhythm and reinforcing collective understanding among players drawn from different leagues and competitive contexts.

Sidi Moussa, long regarded as the heart of Algerian football preparation, will host the Fennecs until Thursday.

This initial phase is designed to lay essential foundations before the team moves abroad.

Petkovic and his staff are using the camp to establish training intensity and to gradually align tactical ideas, ensuring that players arriving at different times can be smoothly integrated into the group.

The schedule reflects a carefully planned approach. Daily sessions are focused on fitness work and cohesion, with attention also given to recovery and adaptation following the demands of club football.

The gradual build-up is intended to avoid unnecessary strain while ensuring that the squad reaches competitive sharpness at the right moment.

On Friday, Algeria will leave for Morocco, where preparations will enter their next stage.

The Fennecs are set to train on Moroccan soil on the day of their arrival, a decision aimed at accelerating adaptation to local conditions ahead of the tournament.

The move is seen as a key step in reducing uncertainties linked to climate, facilities and travel, all factors that can influence performance during a major international competition.

Once based in Morocco, the rhythm of preparation will intensify further as attention turns fully to competitive readiness.

Algeria’s opening match is scheduled for Wednesday, December 24, when they face Sudan.

The fixture represents a pivotal moment in their group campaign, with a positive result viewed as essential to building momentum and confidence.

Beyond the immediate logistics, the early start to preparations underlines Algeria’s determination to approach the tournament with renewed focus.

Recent continental campaigns have fallen short of expectations, and the current build-up carries an added sense of purpose.

Within the squad, there is an understanding that consistency, discipline and collective commitment will be crucial if the team is to reassert itself on the African stage.

As more players join the camp in the coming days, competition for places is expected to sharpen, further raising the intensity of sessions.

For Petkovic, the days at Sidi Moussa are about more than drills and tactics; they represent the opportunity to shape a unified group capable of responding to the pressures of a demanding tournament.

With preparations now fully under way, Algeria’s path towards the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has begun in earnest, grounded in organisation, structure and a clear sense of ambition.