Algeria U23 suffer second-half collapse in Rafik Saifi’s first game

Algeria U23 were beaten 3-1 by South Africa in Bloemfontein on Thursday, as Rafik Saifi’s first match in charge ended in defeat after the hosts scored three times in the second half.

The Young Fennecs led at half-time after Yanis Senhadji put them ahead in the 44th minute. However, their advantage disappeared shortly after the restart, with South Africa turning the match around in a decisive spell.

Quwan Plaatijes levelled in the 48th minute before Nhlanhla Gasa completed the hosts’ turnaround in the 53rd. Faiz Abrahams added South Africa’s third goal in the 72nd minute to secure a 3-1 victory.

The match was also overshadowed by an injury to Anis Ouzenadji, who was making his first appearance for the Algeria U23 side. The Troyes left-back was carried off on a stretcher in the 67th minute after a heavy challenge on his left ankle.

The full extent of the injury has yet to be established. His departure added to a difficult evening for Saifi, who selected a 24-player squad for the training camp.

The result came in Algeria’s first of two friendly matches against South Africa during a camp designed to prepare for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The sides will meet again on Sunday, giving Saifi’s team an immediate opportunity to respond.

Those fixtures are intended to help the new coaching staff assess and refine the squad before Algeria return to competitive action in November. They will play the second preliminary qualifying round for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations against the winner of the two-legged tie between Malawi and Eswatini.

The U23 team had already held an initial training camp in Algiers, which began on 21 September, before travelling to South Africa. Thursday’s defeat therefore represents Saifi’s first match in charge and an early indication of the work required ahead of Sunday’s rematch and the November qualifiers.

The first half had offered Algeria encouragement, with their organisation rewarded by Senhadji’s late opener. But the rapid sequence of goals after the interval allowed South Africa to take control before Abrahams put the result beyond doubt.