Algeria and Rwanda Face Off in International Friendly Match

BLIDA, Algeria — Algeria will host Rwanda in an international friendly match at Stade Mustapha Tchaker on Thursday evening. The kick-off is set for 5 p.m. local time.

Algeria is entering the match in excellent form, having not lost in over a year. They recently recorded impressive victories over Botswana and Mozambique, winning 3-1 and 5-1 respectively.

Under the guidance of Bosnian coach Zoran Petkovic, Algeria has won nine of their last 12 matches. They secured qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations with a stellar record, earning 16 points from 18 possible during the qualifiers.

The Fennec Foxes aim for a fourth consecutive win and an eighth victory in their last nine matches. Their only non-scoring game in the last 18 months was a goalless draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria has had success against Rwanda, winning three of their last four encounters, with their most recent match dating back to 2013. This history gives Algeria confidence heading into the clash.

On the other side, Rwanda is searching for their first victory of 2025 after narrowly missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations due to an inferior head-to-head record against Benin. They ended their previous year with a 2-1 away win over Nigeria but fell 2-0 to Nigeria in March and drew 1-1 with Lesotho.

Currently, Rwanda is in second place in Group C with eight points from six matches, but they are five points behind leaders South Africa. The team has performed decently, yet they find themselves struggling to win games away from home.

Mohamed El Amine Amoura, who scored 10 goals in the Bundesliga this season, could be impactful for Algeria. The experienced midfielder is expected to start, and captain Riyad Mahrez aims to extend his record as the most capped Algerian player.

Rwanda’s lineup will feature goalkeeper Ernest Ntwari, who is expected to return to action despite recent struggles within the squad. Several players have received call-ups, which may introduce fresh talent to the team.

With the quality disparity between the two teams, Algeria is favored to secure a comfortable win in this friendly match.