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Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches

Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches
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Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches

Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches

Algeria extended an unbeaten run to 19 matches with a 1-0 victory over Nigeria Friday in an international friendly between two of the top five ranked African countries.

In another high-profile warm-up match behind closed doors ahead of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying next month, Morocco triumphed 3-1 over a depleted Senegal.

Burkina Faso, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania and Tunisia also won while 2021 Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon drew 0-0 against Japan.

Cup of Nations title-holders Algeria needed less than six minutes to score the goal in the Austrian town of Sankt Veit an der Glan that sank Nigeria in a rematch of the 2019 semi-final at the flagship African competition.

Center-back Ramy Bensebaini ventured forward for a corner and after heading the ball downward, poked it into the net.

Nigeria gave a debut to Frankfurt-born Kevin Akpoguma who, like Bensebaini, plays in the Bundesliga, and represented Germany at under-age level before switching his allegiance.

The defender is the latest of many Europe-born footballers to represent the African country where parents or grandparents come from.

Algeria last lost in October 2018 away to Benin and now move to the Netherlands for a friendly against Mexico on Tuesday.

Senegal, the top ranked African national team ahead of Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria and Morocco, suffered a series of major withdrawals from the squad.

Liverpool forward and 2019 African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane tested positive for Covid-19 and injuries ruled out goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

So a challenging task in Rabat for the Senegalese became that much harder and they trailed by three goals before Ismaila Sarr converted an 88th-minute penalty.

Selim Amallah put the Moroccans ahead after 10 minutes and Youssef en Nesyri and Youssef el Arabi added to the scoresheet in the second half.

On Tuesday, Morocco host a Democratic Republic of Congo team that will be smarting from a 3-0 drubbing by Burkina Faso in Moroccan city El Jadida while Senegal entertain Mauritania.

The Mauritanians will travel south to neighboring Senegal boosted by a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone in Nouakchott, where Hemeya Tanjy fired in the 79th-minute winner.

Mali shrugged off losing a number of players to injuries and positive coronavirus tests to wallop Ghana 3-0 in the Turkish resort city of Antalya.

Hamari Traore put the Malians ahead inside three minutes and El Bilal Toure and Amadou Haidara netted early and late in the second half.

Tunisia were another nation to triumph 3-0 with all the goals against Sudan in Rades near Tunis coming during the first half.

France-based captain Wahbi Khazri was involved in all the goals, scored by Seifedine Khaoui, Ali Maaloul and Anis Ben Slimane.

In other friendlies, the Gambia edged Congo 1-0 in Portugal through an Assan Ceesay goal and a brilliant run and fierce shot from Cliff Nyakeya helped Kenya beat Zambia 2-1 in Nairobi.

The coronavirus sidelined African national teams from last November until late September when Sudan won two friendlies against Chad.

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Algeria Embrace Kansas Fans as They Brace for Argentina Opener

Algeria's Swiss Head hoach Vladimir Petkovic attends the press conference of Algeria one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Getty Images/AFP)
Algeria's Swiss Head hoach Vladimir Petkovic attends the press conference of Algeria one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Algeria Embrace Kansas Fans as They Brace for Argentina Opener

Algeria's Swiss Head hoach Vladimir Petkovic attends the press conference of Algeria one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Getty Images/AFP)
Algeria's Swiss Head hoach Vladimir Petkovic attends the press conference of Algeria one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Getty Images/AFP)

Algeria will look to harness strong backing from local supporters when they open their World Cup campaign against mighty Argentina on Tuesday, with coach Vladimir Petkovic urging his side to focus on the present despite the occasion.

Residents of Lawrence, Kansas have fallen in love with Algeria, who have made their base camp in the city 40 miles west of Kansas City.

Petkovic praised the North African team's newfound fans for their warm welcome.

"I hope that ‌all of the ‌neutrals do cheer on Algeria, because it's been a ‌wonderful ⁠feeling," Petkovic said. "We've ⁠had a great helping hand, even in our open training session... not only the Algerian people, but locals from the United States living in this area.

"We'll try and give them something back."

Videos of Algeria's unexpected support in Lawrence have gone viral, showing emotional scenes of fans -- many dressed in Algeria scarves, some fighting back tears -- embracing the team and the World Cup atmosphere.

"Seeing 500 to 600 people ⁠that first evening that were waiting outside of the hotel, ‌it really gave me goosebumps," Petkovic said. "They ‌really wanted to celebrate this moment with our team." While Algeria face a daunting opener ‌in top-ranked Argentina, Petkovic and his men are big believers in upsets.

"This ‌match against Argentina will certainly be a very tricky match against one of the favorites to win the competition as a whole," he said. "(But) we've seen thus far in this 2026 World Cup that nothing is impossible (including Cape Verde's scoreless draw against Spain on ‌Monday). We have to believe, and we need to work to try and achieve something extra."

The Bosnian coach said ⁠that the ⁠first games at major tournaments often bring uncertainty.

"Whatever country you're in, the opening game is a bit of an enigma for everyone," he said. "That's why it's important to focus on ourselves, to try and give 100% and try and get a positive result, because a positive result in your opening game allows you to then approach your upcoming matches with greater confidence and positivity."

Rather than focusing on stopping Argentina's star names individually, including Lionel Messi, who is playing in his sixth World Cup, Petkovic emphasized a collective approach.

"I've got the utmost respect for every opponent... but I try and also respect our strengths and assets," he said. "I've never come up with a specific plan to try and stop one individual player, and that won't be the case tomorrow either."

Algeria also play Jordan and Austria in the group stage.

Sports

‘All the Way’: Egypt Dare to Dream After Gritty Belgium Draw

Fans celebrate after Egypt scored the first goal as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup match between Egypt and Belgium at a coffee shop in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP)
Fans celebrate after Egypt scored the first goal as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup match between Egypt and Belgium at a coffee shop in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP)
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‘All the Way’: Egypt Dare to Dream After Gritty Belgium Draw

Fans celebrate after Egypt scored the first goal as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup match between Egypt and Belgium at a coffee shop in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP)
Fans celebrate after Egypt scored the first goal as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup match between Egypt and Belgium at a coffee shop in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP)

When Egypt took the lead against Belgium in their opening World Cup match on Monday, decades of doubt gave way to belief for 62-year-old Bahgat Abbas.

Standing beneath the historic arcades near the Basilica in Cairo's eastern Heliopolis district, Abbas leapt with the crowd as cups rattled across tables and the roar from television screens spilled into the street.

"I remember watching Egypt in 1990," Abbas told AFP, waving an Egyptian flag as car horns blared around him.

"Back then, just being at the World Cup felt special. Tonight feels different. Tonight feels like we can actually achieve something."

Egypt were ultimately held to a 1-1 draw by one of Europe's most respected footballing nations, but the performance lifted spirits across the country and renewed belief that a near-century wait for a World Cup breakthrough may finally be within reach.

Much of that hope has centered on Mohamed Salah, Egypt's talisman who turned 34 on Monday and may be playing his final World Cup.

"When we scored, I thought maybe this was finally our night," Abbas said, smiling. "Maybe next time. We've got a good team around Salah."

Seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt have never won a World Cup game.

This is their fourth appearance at the tournament and, with Group G fixtures still to come against Iran and New Zealand, they will hope to break that hoodoo in North America.

- 'We'll go all the way' -

At the final whistle, there was little sign of disappointment.

In Cairo's densely populated Sharabiya district, Taha Omar said it was the first time at a World Cup he had seen Egypt do more than "just defend".

"We played positively, against a team like Belgium, with big-name players."

During the match, heads snapped towards the screen with every Egyptian break, hands lifting, then dropping with groans or applause. Each tackle drew claps, each near-miss a sharp intake of breath.

For Egyptian fans, the World Cup has long represented both hope and frustration.

Egypt were the first African and Arab nation to appear at the tournament in 1934, but exited early.

It then took 56 years to return, leaving Italy 1990 without a win. Their most recent appearance, in Russia in 2018, ended with three group-stage defeats.

Many fans arrived at this tournament carrying familiar fears.

Yet in the weeks leading up to the opening match, television screens were filled with advertisements urging supporters to dream bigger.

One of the most widely shared commercials featured Salah on a video call with a comedian firing off pharaoh-themed dad jokes.

Another campaign showed Egypt players predicting a run beyond the group stage under the slogan: "To all the doubters, this time we'll go all the way."

In Sharabiya, fans held on to that optimism.

"We'll keep going until the end," Mohamed El-Gendy told AFP.

Sports

Haaland Primed for ‘Big Impact’ at World Cup, Says Norway Coach

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Norway Training - New England Revolution Training Center, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - June 15, 2026 Norway's Erling Haaland during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Norway Training - New England Revolution Training Center, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - June 15, 2026 Norway's Erling Haaland during training. (Reuters)
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Haaland Primed for ‘Big Impact’ at World Cup, Says Norway Coach

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Norway Training - New England Revolution Training Center, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - June 15, 2026 Norway's Erling Haaland during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Norway Training - New England Revolution Training Center, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - June 15, 2026 Norway's Erling Haaland during training. (Reuters)

Norway coach Stale Solbakken says star striker Erling Haaland is poised to make a "very big impact" as his country returns to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

Haaland scored 16 times as Norway powered through qualifying with a perfect record, twice beating Italy, to secure a first World Cup appearance since 1998.

They will kick off their tournament campaign against Iraq in Boston on Tuesday in a challenging Group I that includes two-time champions France and Senegal.

However, they can call on one of the game's most fearsome attackers in Haaland, who shot to prominence with nine goals in an Under-20 World Cup match in 2019 and now steps onto the sport's biggest stage.

"Hopefully he'll have a very big impact," said the 58-year-old Solbakken, who was in the squad as a midfielder the last time Norway went to the World Cup.

Haaland is coming off a third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons at Manchester City and boasts a remarkable record of 55 goals in 50 caps for Norway.

"He's our goalscorer. I think he's the world's best goalscorer. He's physically fit, he was given a little bit of a break towards the end of the season," Solbakken told reporters on Monday.

"I think gradually he has played better and better in training here. I think he's where he wants to be and hopefully the team can also give him the service he needs to score goals.

"If you give Erling chances, he has a tendency to score, so hopefully that continues."

Solbakken made no attempt to downplay the significance of their opening game against outsiders Iraq, who return to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

"We are in a very competitive group, maybe the hardest of all. If you can start with three points then maybe you are on your way. You can't hide that it's a very important game."

Solbakken, who also appeared at Euro 2000 in Norway's last major tournament outing, said it be would be a proud moment on Tuesday.

"For every citizen, to lead out his country in a game like this, especially after 28 years of hurt, that is perhaps the top thing, the number one thing on the list," he said.