Algeria coach Fared Benstiti says playing Zambia in pre-tournament friendly matches helped prepare his side for their impressive run at the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Algeria have reached the quarter-finals for the second successive tournament after making their first appearance in the knockout stage in 2025, when they exited at the last-eight stage.
Benstiti said the decision to test his side against Zambia during their pre-tournament camp in Algiers proved valuable as the Desert Foxes stepped up their preparations for the continental showpiece.
Zambia held Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the first friendly played in Blida on July 19 before the hosts edged the Copper Queens 1-0 three days later.
“I wanted to take some risks, to play a very, very strong team. And I think it was a good strategy, because Zambia is so strong,” Benstiti told Extreme16 Media.
The coach believes the quality of opposition provided by Zambia gave his players a useful test ahead of the tournament, where Algeria finished second in Group A with six points.
Their only defeat came against hosts and group winners Morocco, who edged them 1-0.
Algeria will now face Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals on Saturday, with Benstiti’s side aiming to reach the semi-finals and move closer to securing a historic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
