Algerian football is seeing the fruits of its academy system as two graduates from the Sidi-Bel-Abbès training facility make their mark at the top level.
Moslem Anatouf and Yakoub Gassi, products of the Sidi-Bel-Abbès academy, have emerged as key figures for their respective teams, highlighting the value of long-term investment in youth development.
Anatouf scored his first league goal against Paradou and followed it with a goal in the CAF Champions League against Sudanese side Al-Hilal.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old right-back Gassi demonstrated composure and maturity in his third start against Al-Hilal Omdurman.
The Sidi-Bel-Abbès academy, inaugurated on 1 February 2021 under former Algerian Football Federation (FAF) president Kheïreddine Zetchi, was designed to nurture young talent and strengthen the national pool of players.
The facility, along with another in Khemis Miliana, has been central to Algeria’s youth football strategy, contributing to the country’s first U17 Arab Cup of Nations title in Sig in September 2022.
That success, under U17 national team coach Arezki Remmane, showcased the potential of the academy system to produce players capable of performing on international stages.
Despite this, the project faced setbacks under Zetchi’s successor, Charaf-Eddine Amara, who closed both academies and halted the Lalla Setti Regional Technical Center project in Tlemcen.
Many feared this would stall the development of promising young players. Yet Anatouf and Gassi’s emergence demonstrates the lasting impact of a structured training environment.
With several young graduates now making significant contributions in Ligue 1, including at Mouloudia d’Alger, the examples of Anatouf and Gassi underline the importance of investing in youth development.
Their success is a reminder that Algeria’s footballing future hinges on systematic training programs capable of cultivating talent over the medium and long term.
The Sidi-Bel-Abbès academy, even after its closure, has proven that with proper support and vision, Algerian football can continue to produce players who perform at the highest levels domestically and continentally.
