Algerian U19 NT

[TonyStarks]

-Reports have that FC Bale midfielder, Djamel Mesbah, will be called up the U21 national team for their next outing after a positive conversation with coach Ali Bencheikh. If the reports are true, the 20-year old Mesbah will probably feature at the 2005 Mediteranean games to be played later this year in Almeria, Spain.

-Defender Benamar Bellabes will not join the U21 selection in their friendly against Tunisia due to club committments. Although Bellabes' plays for an amateur club, they have refused to let him go. The player joined the 4th division club after refusing to agree to terms with AC Ajaccio.

[TonyStarks]

Reports confirmed today that Ali Samy Yachir will not join the Algerian Olympic team for their friendly against Tunisia. The reasons were not cited. However, the player should be available for the next call up.

[TonyStarks]

Algeria lost 2-0 to Tunisia in their friendly. Djebbour was not at the game, as well as Yachir and Bellabes who werent allowed to leave their clubs. The teams will meet again, but this time in Algeria in a month or two.

[TonyStarks]

Algeria 3-0 Palestine

Algeria opened up their first game at the Islamic Games with a 3-0 win against Palestine. The Algerian team, with players all under 21, came out strong with 2 goals from ASM Oran's Sofiane Hanister in the first 20 minutes. The game remained that way until late in the game when USMA's Hocine Metref scored his first, and gave the team a comfortable 3-0 win. In the groups other game, Saudi Arabia beat Yemen 4-0.

Group Standings:

1. Saudi Arabia 3 points (+4)
2. Algeria 3 points (+3)
3. Palestine 0 points (-3)
4. Yemen 0 points (-3)

[TonyStarks]

We have 2 more games left in the group stage:

Monday, April 11th - Algeria vs Yemen
Wednesay, April 13th - Algeria vs Saudi Arabia

[TonyStarks]

Algeria clinched a quarter-final spot at the 2005 Islamic Games with a 1-0 win over a senior Yemen squad, coached by former Algeria coach Rabah Saadane. The Algerian Under 21 team had to wait until the 84th minute to take the lead, when ASM Oran's Fahem Bouazza fired away his first goal of the tournament. In the groups other game, Saudi Arabia defeated Palestine 3-0. Saudi Arabia and Algeria will face off in 2 days, in a game that will have a more relaxed tempo to it, with both teams already qualified for the quarter-finals.

Group Standings after 2 games:

1. Saudi Arabia 6 points (+7)
2. Algeria 6 points (+4)
3. Yemen 0 points (-5)
4. Palestine 0 points (-6)

Top Scorers for the Algerian team thru 2 games:

2 - Sofiane Hanister (ASM Oran)
1 - Hocine Metref (USM Alger), Fahem Bouazza (ASM Oran)

[TonyStarks]

Highlites of the Algeria-Palestine game:

http://dzpowaa.free.fr/Enespoir3-0Palestine.wmv