Renard’s Rally: Saudi Arabia Gears Up for Algeria Friendly Ahead of Arab Cup 2025
16 November 2025
Renard’s rallying message
Saudi Arabia’s coach Hervé Renard has issued a clear call to his players, urging the Green to double their technical effort ahead of the Algeria friendly in Jeddah. The encounter, staged at the Al-Inma Stadium, is part of the team’s buildup to the Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar, which runs from December 1 to 18.
The amicable clash follows a 1-0 victory over Côte d’Ivoire in a recent warm-up, a result Renard cited as evidence of growing cohesion and readiness. The French tactician stressed focus and discipline as essential ingredients to go deep in a tournament that promises strong opposition.
Saudi lineup and Arab Cup focus
Saudi sources have outlined the expected starting XI for the Algeria friendly, with Renard prioritizing a compact shape and balanced rotation to preserve energy for the Arab Cup. The lineup reportedly includes: GK Nawaf Al-Aqidi; defense: Saud Abdul Hamid, Abdul-Ilah Al-Omari, Walid Al-Ahmad, Nawaf Boshl; midfield: Mohammed Kanoo, Abdullah Al-Khbiri, Nasser Al-Dosari; attack: Salem Al-Dawsari, Saleh Abu Shemat, Faras Al-Breikan. The emphasis is on a spine that can adapt to different tempos and competitive environments, while keeping key players fresh for Qatar’s tournament slate.
Renard has also reminded players that the Arab Cup is a pivotal milestone in their broader journey, with domestic competitions resuming soon and the calendar tightening ahead of the World Cup 2026 cycle. He acknowledged the challenge of November fixtures that come after the season starts, and he stressed the need to maximize the current camp while keeping options flexible due to injuries and fitness concerns.
A long-standing African rivalry
The Algeria friendly marks SA’s 263rd international warm-up, a rich tapestry that now includes 262 prior friendlies. Saudi has won 102 of those matches, drawn 72, and lost 88, scoring 349 goals and conceding 296. This latest test against North Africa’s powerhouses strengthens a regional narrative, as the Green have faced nine first-tier African nations in recent history (Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa, and Ivory Coast among them).
The most-played African opponent for Saudi is Tunisia, with seven meetings, while Egypt has shown up in six encounters. Saudi’s competitive history with Egypt features notable results, including a 2-1 World Cup 2018 group-stage win and a 5-1 Confederations Cup-era victory in 1999; meanwhile, matches against Morocco have seen a win in 1994 and a loss in 2021. The Algeria affair thus not only tests tactical readiness but also hones the team’s ability to navigate long-standing continental rivalries.
Final thought: if football were a bakery, Renard would be the head chef, and today’s bread is resilience. And if the match were a text message, the emoji would be a thumbs-up with a semicolon—confidence with a dash of subtle sarcasm.
