Farid Benstiti urges bold approach despite Algeria’s defeat to Banyana

A well-taken first-half strike from Nthabiseng Majiya proved decisive, as Banyana Banyana edged the encounter 1-0 at Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban.

Benstiti believes matches of this intensity are exactly what his side needs, as they continue to build towards a more competitive and resilient squad ahead of the continental showpiece.

"For me it was a tough game against South Africa. It was a exciting test because like I told you it's very important for us to play teams who are well organised. The coach is very intelligent that's important for me to be competitive and that's why we came to play these two games," said Benstiti

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Algeria have been drawn in a challenging Group A at the tournament in Morocco, where they will face hosts Morocco, Senegal, and Kenya in the opening round.

As they fine-tune their preparations ahead of the second friendly on Friday, Benstiti has urged his players to be more adventurous in their approach, even if it comes with mistakes.

He says friendlies provide the ideal environment to experiment, take risks, and develop confidence, which will be crucial when the stakes are higher at WAFCON.

Algeria, known as the Fennecs, made their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations debut in 2004 but have yet to progress beyond the group stages of the competition.

Since taking charge in 2022, Benstiti has focused on rebuilding the squad by convincing several Europe-based players, including Ghoutia Karchouni, Marine Dafeur, Chloé N’Gazi, Inès Belloumou, and Lina Boussaha, to commit to the national team amid previous concerns about the support for women’s football in the country.

He also credited Algerian Football Federation president Walid Sadi for playing a key role in improving structures and elevating the women’s game.