Algeria women to face Nigeria in two high-profile friendlies ahead of Olympic qualifiers

Algeria’s women’s national team will face African heavyweights Nigeria in two international friendlies later this month as Farid Benstiti steps up preparations for the next round of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The Greens will host Nigeria twice during the upcoming FIFA international window, with matches scheduled for 30 November in Algiers and 4 December in Tizi-Ouzou.

The fixtures will provide Algeria with a demanding test against one of Africa’s leading women’s football nations as they prepare for a crucial two-legged Olympic qualifying tie against Burkina Faso in February and March 2027.

Benstiti’s side are scheduled to meet Burkina Faso in the third round of the qualification campaign, with the first leg set for 27 February and the return fixture taking place on 3 March.

The Algerian team will use the two meetings with Nigeria to assess their preparations ahead of that important encounter, with the ultimate ambition of securing a place at the Olympic football tournament in Los Angeles.

Nigeria friendlies confirmed for Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou

The first meeting between the two countries will take place at the July 5, 1962 Stadium in Algiers on 30 November.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 local time, giving supporters in the capital an opportunity to watch the Greens take on one of the continent’s strongest sides.

The teams will meet again four days later, on 4 December, at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou.

That encounter is scheduled to begin at 17:00.

The two matches form part of Algeria’s preparation programme as the coaching staff seek to maintain the team’s progress ahead of the next competitive fixtures.

For Benstiti, facing Nigeria twice will offer an opportunity to test his players against strong opposition before the pressure of the Olympic qualifiers returns.

Marine Dafeur and her team-mates will be looking to make the most of the international window as they continue their preparations for the double-header against Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso stand between Algeria and Olympic progress

Algeria’s immediate competitive priority is the third round of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers.

The Greens are due to face Burkina Faso over two legs, with the opening match scheduled for 27 February 2027 before the return fixture on 3 March.

The outcome of the tie will be important to Algeria’s hopes of progressing further in the qualification campaign and moving closer to a place at the Olympic tournament.

The friendlies against Nigeria are therefore an important part of the team’s preparations, giving Benstiti’s squad the chance to work on their performance before returning to competitive action.

Algeria target another major milestone

The Olympic qualification campaign is part of a period of significant progress for the Algerian women’s national team.

The Greens are aiming to build on their achievements at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they secured the bronze medal.

They also achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time, with the 2027 edition set to take place in Brazil.

Those accomplishments have raised expectations around the national team, which is now targeting another landmark achievement by reaching the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The two friendly matches against Nigeria will give Algeria an opportunity to measure their progress against leading continental opposition before the decisive stages of their Olympic qualifying campaign.

With Burkina Faso next on the competitive schedule, Benstiti’s players will be hoping to use the November and December fixtures to build confidence and maintain their momentum.