Algeria U23 were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa on Sunday, leaving Rafik Saifi’s side without a win in their past three matches.
The result came in the team’s second friendly in three days, after Algeria were beaten 3-1 by the Amaglug-glug in Bloemfontein on Thursday. The return fixture was played at Petrus Molemela, where South Africa took the lead in the 33rd minute.
Algeria responded three minutes later through Ben Ahmed Kohili. The MC Alger forward received a long diagonal pass from Karim Boutera, who delivered from the right, before rounding the South African goalkeeper and finishing into the empty net.
Boutera, 21, plays for Degerfors. Kohili’s goal came in the absence of Anis Ouzenadji, the 19-year-old Troyes forward who was ruled out through injury.
The match later saw a brief confrontation involving Mokrane Bentoumi. According to Young Talent AAF, the Roda JC player was struck on the back of the head by a South African player.
Video published by the same source showed a short melee, with the referee stepping in to restore order and calm the players.
The draw means Algeria have conceded seven goals and scored three during their three-match winless sequence. The Fennecs have also failed to convince with their performances during that spell.
In June, Saifi’s team lost 3-1 to Mauritania in Annaba, having won the first match of that two-game meeting 2-0. The defeat by the Mourabitounes was followed by the 3-1 loss in Bloemfontein and Sunday’s draw in South Africa.