National Teams

Algeria - Zambia (3-1): A victory for Brahim Hemdani's first match!

DZFoot·September 25, 2026

The Greens hosted Zambia for the first day of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. Not without showing some clumsiness, the national team ended up winning (3-1).

2026 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Group I - Matchday 1 Friday, November 25, 2025, 8 PM Tizi Ouzou - Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium Referees: Malala Kabanga Yannick, Kola Archange Matalatala, and Mwengesyali Jospin Mumbere (DR Congo)

Goals: Hadjam (2'), Sakala (57'), Maza (67'), Hadj-Moussa (74') Cards: Liteta (49'), Tembo (82'), Sakala (89')

ALGERIA: 1 - Mastil - 19 - Radouani (3 - Abada, 89'), 2 - Chergui, 21 - Bensebaïni (c), 13 - Hadjam, 6 - Zorgane (17 - Abdelli, 71'), 10 - Chaïbi, 30 - Maza, 20 - Belloumi (7 - Hadj-Moussa, 71'), 9 - Gouiri (12 - Chiakha, 20'), 11 - Amoura / Coach: B. Hemdani

For his debut on the national team bench, Brahim Hemdani chose to make changes and lined up a very appealing XI on paper. Adem Zorgane started right away, as did Saâdi Radouani and Bachir Belloumi. The 4-2-3-1, or 4-3-3, aims to be offensive, and the intentions that follow are also clear.

Let’s say it right away: while the national team displayed very strong technical qualities, it was primarily due to the individual quality of the players involved. It is difficult to have any judgment on Hemdani's style, which obviously cannot be assessed after just one match, but it is quite clear that Algeria had little regard for tactics.

This did not prevent a goal from being scored in the first minute, with Maza immediately reminding everyone that he is very (very) much above the rest, both in vision and technical quality. Hadjam is credited with a goal, his cross being only slightly deflected by the Zambian defender.

In defense, we note the difficult-to-identify injury of Amine Gouiri. He seems to be a victim of a simple knock but having immediately requested to come off, we can fear a muscle-related issue. Not many more notable events occurred during this first half, and the Greens went into the locker room with a lead (1-0).