Belloumi and Boulbina lead Algeria’s fightback against Burundi

Algeria recovered from conceding twice inside the opening 12 minutes to draw 2-2 with Burundi in Bujumbura on Tuesday, preserving their position at the top of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group.

Mohamed Bachir Belloumi pulled one goal back in the 30th minute before Adil Boulbina equalised on 63 minutes. The result left Algeria with four points after two rounds of matches, although their performance produced contrasting individual displays.

Former Algeria Olympic team manager Azzedine Ait Djoudi, who has also coached several clubs in the Algerian and Moroccan leagues, assessed the players for Africafoot. He selected Belloumi, Boulbina and Achref Abada as his top three performers, while Fares Chaibi, Melvin Mastil and Monsef Bakrar formed his list of disappointments.

Belloumi the driving force

Belloumi was Ait Djoudi’s standout player. The former Olympic manager described the forward as the main attacking force behind Algeria’s response after their difficult start.

His goal restored confidence and gave the visitors a platform from which to recover. Ait Djoudi was also impressed by Belloumi’s movement, particularly his ability to switch between the right flank and central areas.

The forward’s pace and technical quality repeatedly troubled Burundi’s defensive block. He looked to take on opponents, create openings in the final third and was among Algeria’s most active players for dribbles and key passes.

Boulbina was ranked second after scoring the goal that completed Algeria’s recovery. Ait Djoudi highlighted the attacker’s well-developed finishing instinct and intelligent positioning in the penalty area.

Despite Algeria’s early deficit and the demanding conditions, Boulbina remained composed. His acceleration and movement into spaces behind the Burundi defence made him a continuing threat, while his equaliser was regarded as decisive in securing a point.

Abada completed the positive assessment. Ait Djoudi viewed the midfielder as the side’s metronome and credited him with helping restore balance after the poor opening.

His accurate passing, including long deliveries and balls that broke the lines, helped Algeria move play towards the flanks. Abada also showed composure when building from the back under pressure, competed for second balls and helped disrupt Burundi’s transitions.

Chaibi and Mastil criticised

Chaibi topped Ait Djoudi’s list of underperformers after his misplaced back-pass contributed to Burundi’s opening goal in the fifth minute. The error created a difficult mental and tactical situation for Algeria.

The midfielder struggled to recover his level, according to Ait Djoudi, who also noted indecision, several turnovers and an insufficient defensive contribution against Burundi’s quick counter-attacks.

Goalkeeper Mastil was criticised for his coordination with the defence during a first half in which Algeria conceded twice within 12 minutes. Ait Djoudi pointed to hesitation when dealing with crosses and other situations inside the area, as well as a lack of communication with the defenders.

Bakrar, who came on during the match, completed the list. Ait Djoudi felt the forward was too isolated, contributed too little to the press and failed to provide a consistent option during Algeria’s build-up and attacking transitions.

The fightback was a positive for Algeria, but Ait Djoudi believes the team must address its defensive and individual weaknesses before their next fixtures.