FIFA Arab Cup: High flying Boulbina and Algeria thrash Bahrain

Adil Boulbina and Redouane Berkane each scored twice as Algeria ran out to a lopsided 5-1 victory over Bahrain on Saturday at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.

The two talented young forwards put on an entertaining display at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan as Les Verts showed no mercy. The result leaves the North Africans in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages out of Group D.

Bahrain appeared to get off to a dream start but after having a goal disallowed by VAR for offsides inside ten minutes, former JS Kabylie star Berkane put the African side ahead in the 24th minute when he finished from a Youcef Atal cross. The Gulf nation quickly responded with their only goal of the match when Mahdi Abduljabbar fired in from a cross by star attacker Ali Madan.

That was as good as it got for Bahrain. Berkane played the role of provided a few minutes later with a fantastic cross from the right flank to find Boulbina, whose first-time strike soared into the top corner.  The Greens seized full control of the match when Yassine Benzia converted from the penalty spot deep into first half stoppage time.

Berkane doubled his tally less than three minutes into the second half courtesy of an assist from Boulbina, who then completed his own brace in the 80th minute to finish off a lopsided result.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw against Sudan in their opening match that saw veteran winger Adam Ounas receive a red card, Algeria coach Madjid Bougherra will likely lean on his blossoming dynamic duo of Berkane and Boulbina moving forward. Les Fennecs will finish up Group D play against Iraq on Tuesday, where the winner will win the group.