Algeria U17 fall to second defeat against Egypt in Cairo

Algeria’s under-17 side suffered a second successive defeat to Egypt in Cairo, losing 2-0 in a friendly match as part of their preparations for the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The result follows a 1-0 loss to the same opponents three days earlier, with both matches played at the National Team Training Centre in the Egyptian capital.

The back-to-back defeats bring an end to Algeria’s first training camp ahead of the continental tournament.

Egypt took control of the latest encounter early on, with Amir Abou El Ezz opening the scoring in the eighth minute.

The hosts maintained their advantage throughout the match before Khaled Mokhtar added a second goal in stoppage time, sealing the win in the 91st minute.

Early setback shapes the contest

The Algerian side, often referred to as the young Fennecs, found themselves behind inside the opening exchanges.

Egypt’s early goal set the tone for the match, forcing Algeria to chase the game for much of the contest.

Despite their efforts to respond, the visitors were unable to find a breakthrough, with Egypt maintaining their defensive organisation.

The match remained within reach until the closing moments, when Mokhtar’s late strike ensured the result.

The two fixtures against Egypt were arranged as part of Algeria’s preparations for upcoming international competition, offering the coaching staff an opportunity to assess the squad against a strong regional opponent.

Two defeats in Cairo camp

Led by coach Amine Ghimouz, Algeria’s U17 team conclude their Cairo training camp without a win, having lost both scheduled friendlies against Egypt.

The matches form part of a broader preparation programme ahead of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in 2026.

The camp was designed to provide competitive experience and allow the team to build cohesion before the start of the tournament.

However, the results underline the challenges faced by the young squad as they continue their development.

Egypt, meanwhile, were able to capitalise on home advantage across both encounters, recording consecutive victories in front of familiar surroundings at the national training facility.

Focus shifts to final preparations

Attention now turns to Algeria’s second and final training camp, which is scheduled to begin on 3 May.

This phase of preparation will take place shortly before the start of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, giving the team limited time to refine their approach.

The tournament will be held in Morocco, with the Algerian side aiming to secure a strong performance on the continental stage.

The competition also serves as a pathway to the 2026 U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Qualification stakes outlined

Reaching the latter stages of the Africa Cup of Nations will be crucial for teams seeking qualification for the global tournament.

The format provides automatic World Cup places to the eight teams that progress to the quarter-finals.

In addition, two further qualification spots will be decided through play-off matches involving the four teams that finish third in their respective groups.

For Algeria, the objective will be to secure one of those positions and continue their journey beyond the continental competition.

The upcoming training camp is expected to play a key role in finalising the squad and preparing for the challenges ahead.

Building towards the tournament

The recent matches against Egypt offer a measure of the work still required as Algeria prepare for the demands of the competition.

While results have not gone in their favour, the fixtures provide valuable experience against a competitive opponent.

With the tournament approaching, the focus will be on addressing shortcomings identified during the Cairo camp and improving performance levels ahead of the opening matches.

As the young Fennecs move into their final phase of preparation, attention will turn to how they respond to these early setbacks and whether they can translate preparation into results when the competition begins in Morocco.