Algeria - players.bio

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL opener

KOLKATA: Virat Kohli scored 59 not out off 36 balls as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets Saturday in the opening game of the Indian Premier League. The star batsman hit four fours and three sixes as Bengaluru chased down the defending champions’ 174-8 with 22 balls to spare. Phil Salt scored 56 off 31 balls, adding 95 off 51 balls with Kohli in a whirlwind opening stand that powered Bengaluru’s total of 177-3 in 16.2 overs. Salt, who played a prominent role for Kolkata in their 2024 triumph, was picked by Bengaluru in this season’s player auctions and made an impression in the very first game. For Kolkata, skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored 56 off 31 balls, including six fours and four sixes. Rahane is leading the defending champions after last year’s winning captain Shreyas Iyer was not retained by the franchise and moved to Punjab Kings for this season. Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar for the first time, had won the toss and opted to bowl with the dew-factor in mind. Put into bat, Kolkata lost Quinton de Kock early when he was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for four. A couple of catching chances went begging as the hosts fought back through Rahane and opener Sunil Narine. Narine hit 44 off 26 balls, with five fours and three sixes, and put on 103 off 55 balls with Rahane.

Green Falcons start training ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Japan

SAITAMA, Japan: Saudi Arabia’s national football team started training on Saturday at Saitama Stadium’s training pitch in preparation for their clash against their host Japan on Tuesday. The Green Falcons will face off with Japan at Saitama Stadium 2002 as part of the eighth round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On the field, head coach Herve Renard divided the players into two groups. The first group included those who played their recent match against China, and were assigned recovery exercises at the health club. The second group, which consisted of the remaining players, had warm-up exercises followed by small-sided games.

Former Algerian international Djamel Menad dies aged 64

ALGIERS: Former Algeria forward Djamel Menad has died aged 64 following a short illness, his ex-club JS Kabylie announced on Saturday. “The wider Algerian football family and JS Kabylie are in mourning following the announcement of the death of Djamel Menad, a former player and true legend of football in the country,” JS Kabylie wrote on social media. “In recent weeks, the health of the former center-forward of the Algerian national team had deteriorated rapidly as a result of a devastating illness that struck him around two months ago,” indicated news website TSA. Menad died in a clinic in Algiers where he had been hospitalized on March 14, after returning from Brussels where he had been receiving treatment for a month, reported Algerian football media DZfoot. Born on July 22, 1960 in the town of El Bayadh, Menad represented his country 79 times, scoring 25 goals, over a 15-year international career. Menad’s efforts in helping Algeria reach the 1986 World Cup in Mexico resulted in him being named Algerian sportsman of the year in 1985. He was notably top scorer at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, with four goals in five appearances as Algeria claimed the trophy on home soil. Over his club career, Menad played for Algerian sides JS Kabylie, CR Belouizdad and USM Alger.

Algeria’s Muay Thai star Nabil Anane eyes undisputed world title at ONE 172 on Sunday

After six straight wins in martial arts organization ONE Championship, Algeria’s Nabil Anane is looking to earn the biggest win of his career at ONE 172: Takeru vs Rodtang this Sunday at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

Man City launch Ramadan Esports Football Cup in MENA region

ABU DHABI: Manchester City announced on Friday the launching of Ramadan Esports Football Cup, a regional tournament spanning the Middle East and North Africa. The competition will engage participants from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria, the Emirates News Agency reported. Tournament regulations stipulate that on entering national qualifying rounds, participants are allotted a five-hour window to complete a maximum of ten matches against regional competitors. Leading players from each regional qualifier will advance to the semifinal stage, scheduled for April 4 at 13:00 (local time).

Controversial boxer Imane Khelif plans to compete in 2028 LA Olympics, disregards Trump's gender policies

Riley Gaines, host of the 'Gaines for Girls' podcast, joins 'Fox & Friends' to react after professional Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was named a top female athlete of 2024 by the Associated Press.

Barca on track for women’s Champions League semis after thumping Wolfsburg

WOLFSBURG, Germany: Defending champions Barcelona are on track for the final four of the women’s Champions League after a dominant 4-1 win in their quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg on Wednesday. Unlike the 2023 Champions League final between the same two opponents, won narrowly 3-2 by Barcelona who came from two goals down, Wednesday’s clash was an uneven affair. A first-half own-goal by Caitlin Dijkstra, followed up by two strikes in quick succession in the second period by Irene Paredes and Salma Paralluelo put the visitors firmly in control. Janina Minge pulled one back inside the final 15 minutes for Wolfsburg, before Sydney Schertenleib added a late fourth. Winners of three of the past four Champions Leagues, Barcelona showed fluency in attack and pinned the Wolves back early. Barcelona’s dominance of the ball finally showed on the scoreboard after 26 minutes when Ewa Pajor, who spent almost a decade at the German club, pressured Dijkstra into conceding an own goal from Aitana Bonmati’s cross. The visitors were unable to make their dominance count further with just a one-goal lead heading into half-time. But Barcelona quickly took control of the match, and the tie, with two goals in three minutes just after the interval. Paredes tapped in from close range after Wolfsburg failed to deal with a Barcelona corner on 50 minutes. On the 53rd-minute mark, Paralluelo scored on a Barcelona counter, her shot scuffed into her own net by Wolfsburg’s Minge. Paralluelo looked to have scored again just five minutes later, but was half-a-meter offside when assisted by Pajor. Minge gave Wolfsburg hope when she headed in unmarked from just near the penalty spot with 79 minutes gone, but Swiss teenager Schertenleib’s fine curling

Saudi olympic committee vice president attends opening of IOC’s 144th session

Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz attended the opening of the 144th session of the International Olympic Committee in Olympia, Greece.

Contacts

Algeria Sport News

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL opener

Green Falcons start training ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Japan

Former Algerian international Djamel Menad dies aged 64

Algeria’s Muay Thai star Nabil Anane eyes undisputed world title at ONE 172 on Sunday

Man City launch Ramadan Esports Football Cup in MENA region

Controversial boxer Imane Khelif plans to compete in 2028 LA Olympics, disregards Trump's gender policies

Barca on track for women’s Champions League semis after thumping Wolfsburg

Saudi olympic committee vice president attends opening of IOC’s 144th session