Benstiti: Algeria must rise to the occasion against Cote d’Ivoire

Farid Benstiti says Algeria cannot afford to disappoint when they face Cote d’Ivoire in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 quarter-final on Saturday, 8 August. The Algeria manager expects a fiercely contested match and believes his side will need to produce a high-level performance to continue their campaign.

Benstiti was speaking at the pre-match news conference ahead of a meeting with Cote d’Ivoire, who he described as a highly competitive team despite being an unfamiliar opponent.

“Yes, it is going to be a very difficult match. The only unknown is Cote d’Ivoire. It is a team I have never faced, but we are not going into the game without having analysed them. They are a really competitive team,” he said.

The Algeria manager acknowledged that the Elephants presented a different challenge from the teams his side had previously encountered. However, he insisted that his players had prepared for the tie and understood the level of commitment required to reach the last four.

Algeria finished second in Group A and will now face a Cote d’Ivoire side that topped Group B. With both teams aiming to extend their run in the tournament, Benstiti said his players would have to combine determination with the ability to play their own football.

“They will have to show great effort and courage to be able to express our game. Every match is a final. It is in our DNA to fight together on the pitch. We do not have the right to disappoint and, whatever the result, I know that we will have given everything by the end of the match,” he said.

The quarter-final carries significance beyond a place in the semi-finals. The winner will also secure direct qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

That added incentive has increased the importance of the tie for both teams, although Benstiti focused on the immediate task facing Algeria. His message to the squad was centred on collective effort, courage and ensuring they leave the pitch knowing they have committed fully to the contest.

Algeria’s second-place finish in Group A means they must overcome the Group B winners if they are to keep their hopes of winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 alive. Cote d’Ivoire’s position at the top of their section underlines the challenge awaiting Benstiti’s team.

The match will determine which nation progresses to the semi-finals and earns a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup. For Algeria, the opportunity represents the next step in a campaign that Benstiti says demands a final-like approach from his players.