World Cup 2026:Algeria Keep Knockout Dream Alive with Hard-Fought Victory Over Jordan
3 min read
By Sedara Philip
Algeria reignited their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Monday night after producing a spirited second-half comeback to defeat Jordan 2-1 in a crucial Group J encounter.
After suffering defeat in their opening match against defending champions Argentina, Les Verts responded in impressive fashion, overturning a halftime deficit to claim their first victory of the tournament and move back into contention for a place in the knockout stages.
The North Africans showed resilience, determination and attacking quality after the break, with Olympique Marseille forward Amine Gouiri emerging as the match-winner with a decisive late goal.
Algeria entered the contest knowing that anything less than victory would leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, but they struggled to find their rhythm during a frustrating opening half.
Riyad Mahrez came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first period after timing his run perfectly to get behind the Jordanian defence. However, the experienced winger was unable to get a clean shot away before the opportunity disappeared.
Moments later, Farès Chaïbi found himself in a promising position inside the penalty area, only to see his effort blocked by a determined Jordanian defence.
Algeria’s inability to convert their chances proved costly.
Jordan struck against the run of play when Mousa Al-Tamari surged down the left flank and delivered a dangerous ball into the area. The cross eventually fell kindly to Nizar Al Rashdan, who produced an audacious finish with the outside of his boot that slipped past goalkeeper Luca Zidane and into the net.
The goal stunned Algeria and handed Jordan a valuable 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Recognising the need for change, Algeria coach Vladimir Petković made decisive substitutions at the interval, introducing midfielder Nabil Bentaleb and striker Nadir Benbouali.
The changes transformed the match.
Algeria returned from the dressing room with renewed energy and quickly began to dominate possession while pinning Jordan deep inside their own half.
Their pressure finally paid off in the 69th minute. Riyad Mahrez delivered a dangerous corner kick into the penalty area, where substitute Benbouali rose highest and powered a low header beyond goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila to level the scores at 1-1.
The equaliser shifted momentum completely in Algeria’s favour as Jordan struggled to cope with the relentless attacks.
With the North Africans pushing for a winner, another set-piece situation eventually produced the breakthrough.
In the 82nd minute, Algeria capitalised on sustained pressure inside the Jordanian penalty area. The ball fell kindly to Amine Gouiri, who reacted quickest and directed his effort towards goal. The shot took a slight deflection off goalkeeper Abulaila before crossing the line.
There was a brief pause as VAR reviewed the goal for a possible offside infringement, but the decision ultimately went Algeria’s way, confirming that Gouiri had timed his run perfectly and allowing celebrations to begin.
Jordan attempted to respond but found themselves increasingly pinned back as fatigue began to take its toll. Having spent much of the second half defending, they lacked the energy and creativity needed to mount a meaningful comeback.
The final whistle confirmed a deserved 2-1 victory for Algeria, whose persistence and tactical adjustments proved decisive.
The result leaves Les Verts firmly back in the race for qualification ahead of their final group-stage showdown against Austria on June 27. Victory would guarantee progression, while even a draw could prove enough depending on other results.
For Jordan, however, the defeat officially ends their World Cup dream. Eliminated from the competition, they will now look to finish their campaign on a positive note when they face group leaders Argentina in their final fixture.
After a disappointing start to the tournament, Algeria have rediscovered momentum at the perfect time and now head into the final round of matches knowing their fate remains firmly in their own hands.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
