Algeria maintain perfect record as Morocco reach Mediterranean Games last four

Algeria completed a flawless group-stage campaign at the 2026 Mediterranean Games by beating Albania 2-0 and setting up a semi-final meeting with North African rivals Morocco.

Brahim Hemdani’s side finished their football schedule with nine points from three matches, having previously defeated Kosovo 2-1 and Italy 3-1. Their latest victory came against Albania at the Stadio Giovanni Paolo II in Taranto, Italy, on Wednesday, the final day of the group phase.

The result gave Algeria the best record of the opening round. Tunisia, who finished top of Group A, collected seven points by comparison.

Although Algeria controlled the contest, they were unable to break through the Albanian defence before half-time. Captain Yasser Zitouni of USM Khenchela and his team-mates eventually found a way through after the interval, with two goals settling the match.

Lahlou Akhrib opened the scoring in the 58th minute. The JS Kabylie winger had also scored in Monday’s victory over Italy and now has two goals in the tournament.

Houssam Alla Eddine Abdelaziz then put the outcome beyond doubt 15 minutes later, scoring his first goal of the campaign for Paradou. Algeria held on to complete a perfect three-match group stage and secure first place.

Their reward is a semi-final against Morocco, who booked their place in the last four earlier on Wednesday.

Morocco’s Lion Cubs produced the biggest win of the day by beating North Macedonia 5-1. That emphatic result, combined with a one-goal difference in the relevant standings, allowed them to take second place ahead of Turkey.

The Moroccan side’s progress means the semi-final will bring together two of North Africa’s leading teams, with Algeria arriving unbeaten and with maximum points from the group stage.

For Hemdani’s team, the match will be the next step in a campaign that has so far included victories over Kosovo, Italy and Albania. The decisive moments against Albania came in the second half, when Akhrib and Abdelaziz ended the resistance of the team’s opponents.

Algeria’s nine-point total also leaves them as the leading performers from the first round, ahead of Tunisia’s seven points. Morocco, meanwhile, needed their commanding win over North Macedonia to move above Turkey and claim the remaining semi-final place.

The Mediterranean Games football competition will now move into the knockout phase, with Algeria and Morocco meeting for a place in the final.