Guatemala’s National Team: Performance Against African Teams Analyzed
Filmogaz.com reports that Guatemala’s national team faces Algeria in a March FIFA friendly.
The match will be analyzed as part of the team’s performance against African teams.
Match details and context
The friendly is scheduled for Friday in Genoa, Italy. It will be played at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.
Algeria has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The opponent includes players such as Riyad Mahrez, Amine Amoura, Houssem Aouar and Luca Zidane.
Guatemala traveled with a 21-player squad. Mexican coach Salvador “Chava” Reyes will act as interim manager.
Reyes steps in due to Luis Fernando Tena’s recent surgical procedure. This is Guatemala’s second match of 2026, after a 1-0 loss to Canada in January.
Overall record versus African teams
This fixture will be Guatemala’s fifth meeting against an African side. The all-time ledger stands at one win, two losses and one draw.
Across those four matches, Guatemala scored six goals and conceded twelve. The upcoming friendly offers another evaluation point.
Match history
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1988 | Zambia | Seoul Olympics | 0-4 loss |
| 16 Jun 2002 | Cameroon U-23 | Friendly | 5-2 win |
| 13 Jul 2005 | South Africa | CONCACAF Gold Cup | 1-1 draw |
| 31 May 2010 | South Africa | Friendly | 0-5 loss |
Notable past encounters
The first meeting occurred at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Guatemala lost 4-0 to Zambia on September 21, 1988.
That Olympic squad featured Byron Pérez, Víctor Monzón, Ricardo Jerez (father), Julio Rodas, Allan Wellmann and Juan Manuel Funes.
2002 friendly vs Cameroon U-23
On June 16, 2002, Guatemala beat Cameroon U-23 5-2 at the Estadio Nacional. Attendance was around 18,000 spectators.
Juan Carlos Plata scored a hat-trick. Álvaro Jiménez and Mario Acevedo added the other goals.
2005 Gold Cup draw
Guatemala earned a 1-1 draw with South Africa on July 13, 2005. Gonzalo “El Avioncito” Romero scored at minute 36.
Siyabonga Nkosi equalized before halftime. That match remains the only non-loss result versus an African nation.
2010 defeat and aftermath
On May 31, 2010, Guatemala lost 5-0 to South Africa in a preparatory friendly. Katlego Mphela scored twice from the penalty spot.
Other scorers included Letsholonyane, Moriri and Parker. Months later, a match-fixing scandal led to suspensions.
Gustavo Cabrera, Guillermo Ramírez and Wilson Flores were suspended following the investigation.
Outlook
The Algeria match is a stern test against a World Cup-caliber side. Coaches will use it to assess personnel and tactics.
Filmogaz.com will monitor the game and the ongoing analysis of Guatemala’s national team performance against African teams.
