Algeria’s start to the year 2024 was not one to be remembered by the Foxes. A disastrous TotalEnergies CAF AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire which resulted in the parting of ways with then coach, Gamal Belmadi is a memory that the former champions would like to put behind them.
However, the two-time African champions replaced the vacant hot seat with Bosnian coach, Vladimir Petkovic who is well on course to bring back the glory days to the former African champions.
CAFOnline recaps the year for the Foxes and what lies ahead in 2025.
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Ivory Coast 2023 disappointment
Following their disappointing showing in Cameroon where they bowed out of the competition in the group stages as defending champions, Algeria were determined to put up a better showing in Cote d’Ivoire where they were drawn in an interesting Group D consisting of Angola, Burkina Faso as well as Mauritania.
The arrival of Petković gives a boost of hope to the former champions
Following a disastrous TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, Algeria appointed the services of Bosnian coach, Vladimir Petkovic who hit the ground running for the Foxes in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Drawn in Group E of the qualifiers with Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Liberia, the former champions collected maximum points throughout their campaign, qualifying for the finals in Morocco with a game to spare.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
Drawn in a Group G consisting of Mozambique, Guinea, Uganda, Somalia and Botswana, the Desert Foxes currently occupy top spot tied on points with Mozambique after four matches.
Their campaign got off to a positive start thanks to a 3-1 win over Somalia which was followed by a 2-0 win over Mozambique.
Their second win was dented by a banana skid of a 2-1 loss to Guinea at home, but they immediately bounced back with a 2-1 win over Uganda in a result that put them top of the group ahead of the resumption of the qualifiers in March.
Qualification to the 2026 finals in the US will be Algeria’s fifth appearance at the global showpiece.
A decline in the world rankings
Algeria declined by seven places in the FIFA World rankings as a result of their TotalEnergies CAF AFCON group stage exit.
The Algerians are now placed 37 on the world rankings behind Morocco (14), Senegal (17) and Egypt (33).
With a spot in Morocco officially secured, Algeria will now wait for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 draw in January where they will learn their group stage fate and start plotting their way beyond the group stages and hopefully to a gold medal.