Algeria have secured a semi-final meeting with Morocco in the football tournament at the 2026 Mediterranean Games after completing a perfect group-stage campaign with a 2-0 victory over Albania.
Brahim Hemdani’s side won all three of their matches and finished top of their group with nine points from nine. Their latest success came on Wednesday at the Stadio Giovanni Paolo II in Taranto, Italy, where they ended the opening phase with a controlled victory over Albania.
Algeria had already beaten Kosovo 2-1 and Italy 3-1 before facing Albania on the final day. The result means they recorded the best performance of the first round. Tunisia, who topped Group A, finished with seven points by comparison.
The Algerians were frustrated by Albania’s defence during a goalless first half, with captain Yasser Zitouni of USM Khenchela and his team-mates unable to find a way through before the interval.
They eventually broke the deadlock 13 minutes after half-time. Lahlou Akhrib, the JS Kabylie winger who had also scored against Italy on Monday, once again provided the breakthrough, producing the finish that put Algeria on course for victory.
The goal was Akhrib’s second of the tournament and gave his side the platform to take control of the match. Houssam Alla Eddine Abdelaziz then made the result safe in the 73rd minute, scoring his first goal of the competition to complete the 2-0 win.
Algeria’s reward is a meeting with their North African neighbours Morocco in the last four.
Morocco booked their place in the semi-finals earlier on Wednesday with an emphatic 5-1 victory over North Macedonia. That result, combined with a one-goal advantage in the relevant standings, allowed the Atlas Lions to take second place in the group ahead of Turkey.
The semi-final will therefore bring together two sides from North Africa, with Algeria carrying an unbeaten record into the tie after their flawless run through the group stage. Morocco, meanwhile, reached the knockout phase after finishing above Turkey following their decisive win against North Macedonia.
The football competition is part of the 2026 Mediterranean Games, being staged in Italy. Algeria’s final group match was played at the Stadio Giovanni Paolo II in Taranto, where they confirmed their position as the leading team of the opening round.
