Algeria will face Rwanda this Thursday in an international friendly at the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine, as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. While the game holds no competitive weight, it serves as a vital test for head coach Vladimir Petkovic and his squad to fine-tune tactics and assess player form.
Among the players drawing attention is Nabil Bentaleb, making a highly anticipated return to the national team after a long absence due to a heart condition. Now fitted with a subcutaneous defibrillator, the midfielder could get his first minutes under Petkovic’s reign. However, not all the selected players will feature—Himad Abdelli and Kévin Guitoun were released from camp due to physical unfitness, with the Algerian Football Federation stating the decision was made to allow them time for recovery after end-of-season fatigue.
Algeria remains historically dominant over Rwanda, with four wins and two draws in their six previous encounters. Their last meeting dates back to June 2013, when the Fennecs secured a 1-0 victory in Kigali during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Despite that, Petkovic emphasized caution, noting that Rwanda, now coached by Algerian Adel Amrouche, presents a disciplined side with a revamped attacking approach. “They’ll likely play with two compact defensive lines,” said Petkovic, stressing the importance of game variation. A follow-up match between Algeria’s domestic squad and Rwanda is scheduled for Monday in Blida.
