New national coach Brahim Hamdani will face his first official test this Friday evening as the 'Greens' commence their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers campaign. The team is scheduled to play Zambia in the opening round of the tournament.
Coach's Debut Test
A review of past coaching debuts in significant matches reveals mixed results. Abdelhak Benchikha's first official match resulted in a 0-2 away loss against the Central African Republic on October 10, 2010, during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers. Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic began his tenure with a 1-1 draw against host Tanzania on September 3, 2011, in the 2013 CAN qualifiers. French coach Christian Gourcuff secured a 1-2 away victory against Ethiopia on September 6, 2014, in the 2015 CAN qualifiers.
Nabil Neghiz led the team to a 0-2 away win against Seychelles on June 2, 2016, for the 2017 CAN qualifiers. Serbian Milovan Rajevac achieved a significant 6-1 victory against Lesotho in Blida on September 4, 2016, also for the 2017 CAN qualifiers. Georges Leekens faced a 1-3 loss against host Nigeria on November 11, 2016, during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Spanish coach Lucas Alcaraz secured a 2-1 friendly win against Guinea Conakry in Blida on June 6, 2017. Rabah Madjer's debut in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers saw a 3-0 win against Nigeria in Constantine on November 10, 2017, with FIFA registering the result after Nigeria fielded a suspended player despite a 1-1 match score. Djamel Belmadi started with a 1-1 away draw in Gambia on September 8, 2018, for the 2019 CAN qualifiers. Most recently, Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic recorded a 3-2 friendly victory against Bolivia at the Braki stadium on March 22, 2024.
Historical Coaching Records
Abdelghani Jedaoui's players secured a 2-0 victory against visiting Burkina Faso on May 26, 2000, in a friendly match hosted at the '5 July 1962' stadium. Abdelhamid Zouba and Abdelhamid Kermali subsequently achieved a 1-0 away win against Burundi on March 25, 2001, during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Rabah Madjer's team later lost 1-4 in a friendly against host France on October 6, 2001, with the match stopped in the 76th minute.
Zouba, alongside Abdelrahman Mehdaoui, recorded a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in a friendly in Blida on August 20, 2002. Belgian Georges Leekens experienced a 1-3 loss against Belgium in a friendly match on February 12, 2003. Rabah Saadane led his team to a 1-0 victory against Qatar in a friendly held in France on September 4, 2003. The late Belgian Robert Waseige's tenure included a 0-1 loss against China in a friendly played in France on April 28, 2004.
Ali Fergani's side drew 1-1 with host Congo on October 9, 2004, during the combined 2006 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifiers. Miziane Ighil's team faced a 2-5 defeat against Nigeria in Oran on September 4, 2005, also in the combined 2006 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifiers. French coach Michel Cavalli secured a 1-0 win against Sudan on June 4, 2006, in a friendly hosted at the '5 July 1962' stadium. Rabah Saadane later achieved a 3-2 victory against Mali in a friendly in France on November 27, 2007.
Looking Ahead
New national coach Brahim Hamdani is preparing for his first official competitive fixture, leading the 'Greens' into the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers. The team will commence their campaign against Zambia, marking Hamdani's debut in a significant match. This initial encounter will set the tone for the qualification journey under his leadership. The fixture is anticipated to draw attention as fans and analysts observe Hamdani's tactical approach and the team's performance in a competitive setting. The 'Greens' will aim to secure a strong start in the qualifiers, building momentum for their pursuit of a spot in the 2027 tournament. The match against Zambia represents a key opportunity for Hamdani to establish his presence and demonstrate his vision for the squad.