The Badminton Africa Mixed Team Championships in February saw Algeria crowned as champions for the first time in its 45-year history.

That was a momentous occasion for Algeria, as it guaranteed them qualification to the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2025 – their maiden appearance at the World Mixed Team Championships.

While Algeria have consistently done well in the men’s team championships, qualifying for the last four Thomas Cup editions, the Sudirman Cup remained out of reach. It was finally in Cameroon that the long sought-after moment arrived, when Algeria overcame Egypt 3-2 in the semifinals and Mauritius 3-1 in the final.

On the cusp of participating in their first Sudirman Cup which begins tomorrow, Algeria’s team were thrilled to be in Xiamen.

“It’s history, because we played the Thomas Cup four times, but this is our first time for the Sudirman Cup, so it’s good for Algeria, for the federation, for badminton in Algeria, because then little boys and girls will want to play badminton,” said doubles spearhead Koceila Mammeri, who has been vital to Algeria’s fortunes with his performances in men’s doubles (with Youcef Sabri Medel) and mixed (with Tanina Violette Mammeri and Linda Mazri). “So we are proud of making history; we also won the African Championships, and that’s the first great achievement. We’re very proud.

“We tried to compete at this level, but (at the African Championships) we lost once in the final and twice in the semifinals. So winning gold for the first time was great.”

The team consists of Adel Hamek and Mohamed Abderrahime Belarbi (men’s singles), Halla Bouksani and Yasmina Chibah (women’s singles), with Koceila Mammeri partnering Belarbi or Hamek in men’s doubles as his regular partner Youcef Sabri Medel withdrew due to an ankle injury. The other likely combinations are Yasmina Chibah/Linda Mazri (women’s doubles) and Koceila Mammeri/Tanina Violette Mammeri (mixed doubles).

Mazri, runner-up at the Africa Championships with Yasmina Chibah, called her experience a “dream” to be in Xiamen for the Sudirman Cup.

“I can’t express my feeling, I’m so happy because it’s our first time,” Mazri said. “It was truly so hard. In Africa we had to win the gold medal to qualify and this time we did it. We were all strong on court, so I’m truly so happy. It’s a pleasure.

“It’s a dream for all athletes in Africa. Badminton is not that famous in Africa as in Asia or Europe. So it’s a dream coming true. My family is so proud of me.”

Adel Hamek, Algeria’s highest ranked men’s singles player at No.242, said the qualification of the mixed team was a more complete experience than the Thomas Cup.

“For me, it means a lot. There was a lot of sacrifice, a lot of training and it’s like fulfilling a dream, like a kid’s dream, to play alongside top players like Shi Yu Qi and Kunlavut… so it’s always a dream for a lot of people, and what it means is that I’m with the best, and trying my best. It’s to get pleasure on court.

“It was our first time to qualify for the Sudirman Cup. We had qualified for the Thomas Cup four times but it’s not the same, because the (mixed) team is different; we are with the girls and it’s a different atmosphere, and it’s great to be here with them. It’s always an amazing experience to be in the Thomas Cup or Sudirman Cup. So now we just want to enjoy the experience.”

While the journey has been rewarding, Algeria face the prospect of a difficult opening encounter as they take on 13-time champions China in Group A. The African champions play the hosts in the second session beginning 5pm local time.

Morning session ties featuring Chinese Taipei versus Canada (Group B), Thailand versus Hong Kong China (Group A) and Korea versus Czechia (Group B) start at 9.30am local time.

Withdrawals

Korea: Jin Yong, Kim Ga Eun, Lee Yun Gyu, Na Sung Seung
Algeria: Youcef Sabri Medel
Japan: Yuki Fukushima, Mayu Matsumoto