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Antar Yahia named Algeria manager after Petkovic's departure

The Algerian Football Federation is set to hand the reins of the national team to Antar Yahia, a former international defender with limited coaching experience. He will succeed Vladimir Petkovic, whose 2026 World Cup record was deemed insufficient.

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Antar Yahia named Algeria manager after Petkovic's departure
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Antar Yahia is set to become the next manager of the Algerian national team, according to La Gazette du Fennec. The former centre-back will take over from Vladimir Petkovic, whose departure is imminent despite a two-year contract extension signed just before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

The Fennecs finished among the best third-placed teams in their group before being eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland. This performance failed to convince the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), which has reportedly already decided in favour of an Algerian successor to the 62-year-old Bosnian coach.

Born in Mulhouse, Antar Yahia earned 53 caps for Algeria between 2004 and 2012. After retiring from professional football at the end of the 2016-2017 season, he moved into management: three years as sporting director at US Orléans, then one season in a similar role at USM Alger. His experience on the bench remains limited — as assistant at SO Cholet, he has been coaching Angers SCO’s reserve team in National 3 since 2025.

His first mission at the helm of the Fennecs will be to qualify them for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda, which kicks off on 19 June 2027.

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