Algerian football has just written another glorious chapter in its history. The under-21 national team claimed gold in the football tournament at the Tarente Mediterranean Games, defeating Tunisia in the final by a decisive 2-0 scoreline. A feat that revives a memory more than fifty years old: the historic triumph of Algiers in 1975.
The matchup promised a fiery Maghreb derby, and the young Fennecs left little room for doubt. It took barely thirty-eight seconds for Benahmed Kohili, an MC Alger forward, to open the scoring. Set up from the left by Abdelmalek Klalech, the twenty-one-year-old striker unleashed an unstoppable shot that deceived Tunisian goalkeeper Rayen Besbes off the bounce. A lightning-fast goal that immediately set the tone for the match, seized from the outset by the Algerians on the pitch of the Erasmo-Iacovone stadium.
Rattled early on, Tunisia tried to work its way back into the game, relying on greater possession and a handful of dangerous chances. But the Algerian defense stood firm throughout the match, backed by a goalkeeper having the night of his life. Credited with several decisive interventions, he pulled off a standout save that denied the Aiglons de Carthage any way back into the contest.
The second half sealed the outcome for good. In the 82nd minute, Benahmed Kohili struck again, converting a penalty to make it 2-0 and crushing Tunisia’s remaining hopes. The brace crowned the MC Alger forward as the tournament’s top scorer, with five goals in just four matches.
This victory carries real weight in the history of Algerian football. It echoes directly the triumph of 1975, when the national team, led by figures such as Rachid Mekhloufi, Omar Betrouni and Mehdi Cerbah, won the final against France at Algiers’ 5-Juillet stadium after extra time. That title had long stood as the country’s most prestigious in this competition, one this 2026 generation has now finally matched.
Algeria’s path to the final was hardly a walk in the park. In the semifinal, they had to fight their way past Morocco on penalties, following a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time. The Algerian goalkeeper already shone on that occasion, producing two decisive saves during the shootout. Tunisia, for its part, reached the final in spectacular fashion, thrashing host nation Italy 3-1.
Beyond the sporting achievement, this title carries a particular symbolic weight for Algerian fans. It comes at a moment many describe as difficult for the country, offering a welcome breath of fresh air and reconnecting, if only for the length of a match, an entire generation to one of the most cherished memories in national football. A title fully deserved by a team few expected to reach such heights, given how short its preparation was heading into the competition.