Captain Courageous: Bennour’s U21 breakthrough spurs next big move

Alida Bennour is skippering Algeria at her first FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship and will soon begin her first professional season in France.

• Watch the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship on VBTV

The 18-year-old opposite hitter has been Algeria’s top scorer in the tournament, a responsibility she embraces in her first world competition outside Africa.

“It was an excellent experience for me and my team because we usually play in Africa,” she said. “It was interesting to play in the World Championship.”

She has already tested herself against some of the sport’s strongest programs, including Canada, Poland, Italy and Türkiye.

“This was the first experience for me and my team, and I was very happy to participate and play against teams like Canada and Italy. They have so much experience on the court,” she said.

The World Championship has also served as preparation for her first full season with Nancy, where she will line up alongside Thai star Pimpichaya Kokram in an internationally diverse roster for the 2025-26 season.

“The season starts in August, but I couldn’t go to Nancy earlier because of the World Championship,” Bennour said. “It was a great opportunity to keep playing and be on the court before joining the club.”

“We have a lot of girls from different countries, and it is very good to make one team. We have a girl from Mexico, one from here, and I think from Finland and France. For me, my club is a very good club, and I’m so happy to participate with Nancy. I’m so excited to go and play.”

Leaving home at 18 to play professionally in another country is no small step, but Bennour sees it as essential to becoming a better athlete.

“In Africa, we don’t have the same style as other countries,” she said. “I was playing in Algeria, and now I’m playing in France, and there’s a big difference on the court. For my experience, I think it’s very positive. I’m going to work hard to improve.”

Her competitive drive is rooted in a family tradition of sport.

“My mom, my dad, and all my family played sports – not volleyball, but basketball and handball. My dad was my manager and helped me a lot on the court. Even in this championship, he would call me and say, ‘Don’t do that, do this, listen to me.’ I’d say, ‘Okay, you are the boss, and I’m listening to you’,” she laughed.

That guidance has shaped her long-term goals. “My future goal is to play in Italy. I also want to play in Türkiye,” she said.

Having faced both countries in Surabaya, she knows the level she is aiming for. “They have a lot of experience, and the style of play is different,” she said. “That’s why I want to continue developing, so I can be ready for those leagues.”

Bennour is also committed to completing her studies before fully committing to a professional career. “Before that, I want to play in France because I am studying,” she said. “I’m not only doing volleyball, so I want to finish my university, and after that focus 100% on volleyball. I want to continue in this sport.”

Bennour has shouldered the responsibility of leading her team while preparing to leave home for the first time, meeting each step with the composure and courage expected from a captain.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: full schedule

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