"Won, not given": after the World Cup, the Algerian women's team aims for the African podium
Algeria's U20 and U18 women's national teams competed in their respective World Championships this summer: the U20s in China (June–July 2026) and the U18s in Romania (July–August 2026). Following Turkey , another Steazzi-sponsored team was present at the U20 World Championship in China. This qualification was secured after the 2025 African Championships, which were hosted on home soil. This provides an opportunity to learn more about these women's national teams and their objectives for 2027.
Coach: Nadia Benzine
Assistant Coach: Djamila NAILI DOUAOUDA
Analyst & Statistics: Farida HAMEL
What is the place of handball in Algeria?
Handball holds a significant place in Algeria: it's one of the most popular team sports after football, with a strong tradition among men. Algeria wrote some glorious chapters in African handball history during the 1980s and 90s. For women, the sport is becoming more structured: there's a national championship, clubs that train young players, and youth teams that are now qualifying for the World Championships. We're not yet a major force in African women's handball, but the potential is real, and that's precisely what we're trying to build, step by step.
How did Steazzi help you in the preparation and during the competition?
First, the credit goes to the work of the staff and the players. The tool doesn't score the goals. In practical terms, after each match, the statistics were displayed and sent directly to the players: a valuable time-saver for making adjustments, both to their own performance and to the next opponent. Next, we moved on to sequencing. During matches, and especially at halftime, the analysts were by my side on the bench, always ready to draw my attention to specific points, and in contact with the goalkeepers to prepare them for 7-meter throws or a potential substitution. It's an effective and rapid support, serving the team, but the difference is made on the field.
How did the World Championships go for both teams?
Both teams have competed at the highest global level, but with results that still show the significant gap that separates us from the major nations.
The U20s finished 24th out of 32, which represents progress compared to our last participation.
The U18s finished 31st out of 32, second to last. Despite this ranking, there was a slight positive change, notably with a victory. In our previous participation, we finished last.
On the African stage, we are currently ranked between 5th and 6th. We must remain realistic: the gap with the major nations is still significant, but the results are promising. show some signs of progress. Above all, the experience gained by these young players at the world level constitutes an important step for their development and for the future of our national teams.
What are your goals for 2027?
A clear objective: to earn our place at the World Championship on the field, not be a lucky loser. Specifically, to reach the podium at the Africa Cup of Nations. Currently, we're ranked between 5th and 6th in Africa: we need to climb two or three places and challenge nations like Egypt, Tunisia, or Angola. It's ambitious, but it's the right goal for a generation that now has world-class experience under its belt. We want a qualification earned, not handed to us.
A big thank you for this testimony and for introducing me to Algerian women's handball.
