Algeria has hosted a high-profile football event with Western Sahara, a move likely to heighten tensions with Morocco amid longstanding territorial disputes.
The Sahrawi Football Federation, recently established in Algeria as the first country to back Western Sahara’s autonomy, staged a gala match against Algerian legends on 11 February at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, a suburb of Algiers.
The event was organised jointly by the new federation and the Algerian Ministry of Sports.
The Sahrawi side, coached by Mohamed Kentoui, fielded players including Wanati Khalihena, Ahmed Bannou, Sid-Ahmed Jordi, Ismaïl Mendez, Mohamed Ghaïlani, Mohamed Eloualo, Mouloud Saïd, Ahmed Dah, Bolahe Nan, Ali Ba-Bouzid, and Chej Fadili.
They faced an Algerian legends team under coach Younès Ifticen, featuring Mohamed Amine Zemmamouche, Rabie Meftah, Réda Babouche, Djamel-Eddine Benlamri, Nacer Meddour, Hamza Koudri, Brahim Boussehaba, Djamel Sellama, Abdelmalek Ziaya, Larhar Hadj-Aïssa, and Mohamed Amroune.
The match ended 0-0 after two 35-minute halves, with a notable moment in the 50th minute when Hamid Berguiga missed a penalty that could have given Algeria the lead.
This initiative marks a significant political statement. Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara, is likely to view the establishment of a football federation and this high-profile match as provocative.
The United Nations, however, has previously recognised the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only credible political solution to the conflict, a stance officially announced last October.
By supporting Western Sahara in this way, Algeria is signalling continued backing for the Sahrawi claim to autonomy.
The event illustrates how sports are increasingly used as a diplomatic and political tool in contested regions. For now, the 0-0 scoreline reflects the on-field stalemate, but off the field, the initiative is set to exacerbate tensions between the two North African neighbours.
The match also serves as an opportunity to spotlight Sahrawi football talent while underscoring Algeria’s political position in the broader regional dispute.
🎥🇩🇿🇪🇭 | Une ambiance incroyable lors du match amical entre la sélection du Sahara occidental et l’équipe d’Algérie au stade Nelson Mandela, porté par une marée humaine en délire ! 🔥⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ZdNfVVFct5
— 🦅﮼رَاشـــــد | Rashid (@RLehbib) February 13, 2026
