Algeria vs. Rwanda: A Friendly Clash of African Titans

Kickoff Preview: Who’s in Better Form?

This Thursday evening, Algeria and Rwanda will face off in an exciting all-African friendly at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida. The home team is riding a wave of unbeaten form, while Rwanda will be desperate to snag their first win of 2025.

Algeria’s Red-Hot Streak

Algeria has been unstoppable lately—no losses in over a year! They wrapped up 2024 in style and carried that momentum into March, crushing Botswana (3-1) and Mozambique (5-1) in dominant fashion.

The standout performer? Mohamed El Amine Amoura, who racked up five goals and an assist in those two matches. Under new boss Vladimir Petkovic, who took charge last February, Algeria has been thriving. With nine wins in 12 games and a near-perfect AFCON qualifying campaign (16 points from 18 possible), the Fennec Foxes are looking sharp.

Now, they’re gunning for their fourth straight win and their eighth in nine games. The only blip? A goalless draw against Equatorial Guinea—the only time they’ve failed to score in the last year and a half.

Rwanda’s Uphill Battle

Rwanda, on the other hand, had a bittersweet end to 2024. Despite pulling off a stunning 2-1 win over Nigeria, they narrowly missed out on AFCON qualification due to a worse head-to-head record against Benin.

Their return to action in March was rocky—a 2-0 loss to Nigeria followed by a 1-1 draw with Lesotho in World Cup qualifiers. Still, they’re holding onto second place in their group, though they trail South Africa by five points.

With no qualifiers until September, Rwanda will be eager to turn things around. But facing Algeria—ranked 94 places higher—won’t be easy. Their away record doesn’t inspire much confidence either, with just five wins on the road in the last four years.

Head-to-Head: Does History Favor Algeria?

Algeria has dominated past meetings, winning three of their last four clashes with Rwanda. However, their most recent encounter was way back in 2013, so past results might not tell the full story.

Final Thoughts: What to Expect

Algeria, with their attacking firepower and home advantage, are clear favorites. But Rwanda has shown they can spring surprises (just ask Nigeria!). Will this be another statement win for the Fennec Foxes, or can the Amavubi pull off an upset?