Algeria’s ‘Fennecs’ qualified for the Africa Women Championships finals for the first time in 2004 after beating Mali 3-2 on aggregate in the qualifiers.
At the finals in South Africa, Algeria failed to make the knockout stages after finishing third in Group B behind Nigeria and Cameroon. They lost 4-0 to Nigeria and 3-1 to Cameroon, but recorded their first victory at the finals after beating Mali 3-0.
Two years later, Algeria once again qualified of the finals in Nigeria, after beating Libya on a walkover and Egypt 4-0 on aggregate home an away in the qualifying rounds.
At the finals in Nigeria, Algeria however struggled and finished bottom of Group A with only one point from a 3-3 draw against Equatorial Guinea, while they lost 6-0 to Nigeria and 4-0 to South Africa.
In 2008, Algeria failed to make the finals in Equatorial Guinea, after they were knocked out by Tunisia in the qualifiers.
Algeria beat Morocco 3-1 on aggregate over two legs in the first qualifying round, but then lost 2-1 on aggregate home and away to Tunisia.
In 2010, Algeria made the finals for the third time after beating Egypt on a walkover and then beating Tunisia 2-1 over two legs in the qualifying rounds.
At the finals in South Africa, Algeria however failed to make an impact and finished last in Group B on zero points after losing all their matches. They lost 2-1 to Ghana, 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea and 2-1 to Cameroon.
Algeria did not enter the 2012 championship, but the previous year they recorded a highlight by winning the bronze medal at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
In the group matches they lost 3-0 to the eventual gold medallists Cameroon, but thrashed Mozambique 7-0, with Naima Benziane and Djamila Marek each scoring a brace.
In the third place playoff they beat South Africa 3-0 with Benziane, Marek and Dalilah Zerrouki scoring the goals.
Algeria qualified for the 2014 finals after beating Morocco and Tunisia in the qualifying rounds.
They beat Morocco 2-0 on aggregate home and away with Naima Bouhanni scoring both goals, and then beat Tunisia 5-3 over two legs.
Algeria has also been quite active this year, playing four international friendlies, besides their four qualifying matches for the 2014 Africa Women Championships.
In January they lost 2-1 away to Senegal, but beat them 3-0 in the return friendly at home.
On 30 April they lost 3-1 to the Ivory Coast at home and three days later lost 2-1 to the same opponents away.
The Fennecs have been preparing at home at the National Technical Centre in Sidi-Moussa over the past month under the guidance of coach Azzedine Chih.
The team was joined by foreign-based players notably Fayrouz Benyoub, Myriam Benlazar, Nadia Benmokhtar, Lilas Traikia and Sabrina Labiod who all play in France.
They were the first foreign team to arrive in Namibia when they touched down at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Sunday, 28 September.
Algeria is currently ranked seventh in Africa and 75 in the world.
