Nesrine Bahlouli has been named in Algeria’s 26-player squad for the African qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after choosing to represent the country.
The 23-year-old Al-Nassr midfielder, who previously played for France from Under-19 to Under-23 level, is one of five new players selected by Algeria manager Farid Benstiti.
Bahlouli, the sister of Fares and Mohamed Bahlouli of US Biskra, joins Celina Ould Hocine, Sarah Compaore, Celia Aggoune and Anais Oularbi among the newcomers.
Ould Hocine, 24, plays for Paris FC, while 19-year-old Compaore is with OM and 19-year-old Aggoune represents RC Lens. All three have previously been involved in the French youth set-up.
Oularbi, 23, is a former France Under-23 international who now plays for Vancouver Rise.
Emma Smaali, 26, returns to the squad after being left out of Algeria’s team for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. She plays for Lens.
Benstiti has retained the main group of players who helped Algeria secure a historic third-place finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in mid-August.
Chloe N’Gazi, Ines Boutaleb, Melline D’Oria, Ines Belloumou, Morgane Belkhiter, Lana Smits Ouraghi, Melissa Bethi, Marine Dafeur, Amira Ould Braham and Sofia Bekhaled are all included.
Lina Boussaha, who scored against Morocco in the third-place play-off, is also part of the squad, along with Lynda Bendris, Ines Khiri and Ikram Adjabi.
However, Amira Benaissa, Lea Abadou, Sofia Guellati, Roselene Khezami, Morgane Ikene and Khouloud Ournani have not been selected.
Algeria begin Olympic qualifying campaign against Central African Republic
Algeria will face Central African Republic in the first leg on 9 October.
The return match will take place four days later at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, with a place in the African qualification process for the 2028 Olympic Games at stake.
