Algeria’s president Abdelmadjid Tebboune has admitted he watched the country’s 2026 World Cup matches “on edge, like all Algerians”, but has urged unity and expressed faith in the national team despite their stuttering campaign.
Speaking on television a little over a week after the final of the 2026 tournament, Tebboune gave his first full reaction to the Fennecs’ performance in North America, acknowledging the disappointment while insisting there are positives to build on.
Algeria endured a turbulent group stage, starting with a heavy defeat against eventual champions Argentina. That opening setback left the team under immediate pressure and fuelled early criticism among supporters.
They responded with a hard-fought, narrow victory over Jordan, a win secured “au forceps” – by sheer force of will – which kept their qualification hopes alive but did little to ease concerns over their overall level of play.
A draw with Austria followed, ensuring Algeria reached the knockout stage but again prompting debate over their identity and authority on the pitch. In the round of 32, the Verts were beaten by Switzerland, ending their journey in the last 16 and confirming a campaign that many fans felt never truly caught fire.
Supporters’ frustration and Mandi’s verdict
For large sections of the Algerian public, it was not simply the results that proved frustrating but the manner of the performances. Many supporters accused the side of lacking personality, arguing that the team failed to impose itself in key moments and did not show the character traditionally associated with Algerian football on the world stage.
That assessment was shared by Aissa Mandi, who announced his international retirement after the tournament. The defender, capped 122 times and scorer of eight goals for his country, publicly echoed the criticism over the team’s lack of character, adding weight to the concerns voiced by fans.
Mandi’s status as a senior figure of the so‐called golden generation meant his comments resonated strongly, underlining the sense that Algeria had fallen short of expectations, not only in terms of results but also in style and conviction.
Tebboune calls for unity and patience
Tebboune, however, chose to adopt a more measured stance. While admitting the tension he felt during the matches – “les nerfs a vif, comme tous les Algeriens” – he stressed that anxiety had been shared at every level of the country, including within the political sphere.
Despite that strain, the head of state said he preferred to “see the glass half full”. He reiterated his confidence in Algeria’s emerging generation, emphasising the youth of the squad and suggesting that the experience of a challenging World Cup could ultimately serve as a foundation for future progress.
The president also issued a clear appeal for what he described as a form of “union sacree”, effectively calling on all stakeholders – players, staff, officials, media and supporters – to close ranks behind the national team rather than deepen divisions in the wake of the elimination.
By backing the young core of the squad and urging collective support, Tebboune signalled that there would be no rush to sweeping changes on the basis of a disappointing tournament, instead framing the 2026 World Cup as a difficult but valuable step in a longer-term project for Algerian football.
