Algeria is one of the most significant countries in Africa and one that has won various championships and Olympic medals. Its most popular, and in fact its national sport, is football or soccer. But other popular sports in Algeria are handball, martial arts, boxing, basketball, volleyball and athletics.

Camel race in Algeria

Camel race in Algeria

Algerians do love sports but women are still not allowed on certain sports. Algeria's football scene consists of various football clubs that conducts and organizes national and international matches. The Algerian Football Federation organized conferences and meetings of the Algerian football championship known as the Algerian Cup which includes 16 professional league clubs. Notable Algerian football players include Rachid Mekhloufi, Lakhdar Belloumi, Rabah Madjer, Hassen Lalmas, Djamel Zidane and Salah Assad.

"Algeria's football program has built an impressive legacy through consistent investment in youth development and a passionate domestic league structure. The Algerian Cup has become a cornerstone of North African football competition."
— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years

Algeria has also won various international titles in sports like martial arts like judo that includes Amar Benikhlef and Ali Idir for men and Salima Souakri and Soraya Haddad for women. Boxing is also where Algeria had a lot of Olympic notoriety like Hocine Soltani, the Atlanta Olympic champion (1996) as well as Mohamed Benguesmia and Loucif Hamani.

When it comes to hosting international sporting events, Algeria was the chosen venue for World Military Cup (1960), Mediterranean Games (1975), All-African Games (1978), African Cup of Nations (1990), Pan Arab Games (2004), Boys Youth Volleyball World Championship (2005), and the All-Africa Games (2007).

Algeria has won the African Cup of Nations twice - 1990 and 2019. The Algerian National team has also qualified for the FIFA World Cup on five occasions - 1982, 1986, 2010, 2014, and 2026.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Algeria. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular Sports of Algeria

  • Football (Soccer), handball, martial arts, boxing, basketball, volleyball, track and field

Pro Tip: The Algerian Cup final is one of North Africa's most electrifying sporting events, typically held at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers with passionate crowds creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

Algeria Sporting Success

  • Algeria won the African Cup of Nations in 1990 and 2019
  • Riyad Mahrez won the CAF Best Player Award for 2016
  • Algeria won three medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics (2 gold and 1 bronze)
  • Algeria won 2 silver medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics
  • Algeria won 1 gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics
  • Algeria won 2 medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics (1 silver and 1 bronze)
  • Algeria won 5 medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)
  • Algeria won 1 gold and 1 bronze at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics

African Cup Champions

Algeria has won the African Cup of Nations twice (1990 and 2019), establishing themselves as one of the continent's football powerhouses.

Algeria Football History →
"Algeria's Olympic success has been particularly notable in combat sports like boxing and judo, reflecting the country's strong martial arts tradition. Their medal hauls across multiple Games demonstrate sustained investment in these disciplines."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

Great Athletes from Algeria

  • Hocine Soltani (Boxing)
  • Riyad Mahrez (Football)
  • Hassiba Boulmerka (Running)
  • Taoufik Makhloufi (Running)

Olympic Boxing Legacy

Hocine Soltani won Algeria's most celebrated Olympic boxing gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games, inspiring a generation of Algerian boxers.

Algeria Olympic History →

Pro Tip: Algeria's tradition of excellence in judo and boxing makes it a destination for martial arts training camps, with several world-class training centers located in major cities.

Algeria Sports Trivia

  • The winner of the 1928 Olympic marathon was Ahmed Boughèra El Ouafi, an Algerian athlete competing for France during the time Algeria was part of France.
  • An Algerian-Moroccan squad rode in the 1950 Tour de France when only national and regional teams were allowed to enter.

Algeria at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Algeria

  • 1960 - World Military Cup
  • 1975 - Mediterranean Games
  • 1978 - All-African Games
  • 1990 - African Cup of Nations
  • 2004 - Pan Arab Games
  • 2005 - Boys Youth Volleyball World Championship
  • 2007 - The All-Africa Games
  • 2023 - Arab Games
"Algeria's sporting identity extends well beyond football, with significant achievements in handball, athletics, and martial arts that demonstrate the nation's broad athletic talent base across multiple Olympic disciplines."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Annual Sporting Events Held in Algeria

  • The Algerian Cup
  • The Algerian National Basketball Cup
  • The Algerian National Athletics Championships

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Algeria has qualified for the FIFA World Cup five times (1982, 1986, 2010, 2014, 2026), making them one of Africa's most frequent World Cup participants.

Algeria World Cup Record →

Sporting Facilities in Algeria

  • Stade du 5 Juillet 1962
  • Stade du 19 Mai 1956
  • Stade Nelson Mandela
  • Stade Miloud Hadefi