Bentaleb enters race for Algeria captaincy against Bensebaini

Nabil Bentaleb has emerged as an unexpected contender for the Algeria captaincy, shaking up Ramy Bensebaini’s candidacy, who was favored to succeed Riyad Mahrez.

Since Mahrez’s withdrawal from the national team, the question of the Fennecs’ captaincy remained unresolved. Bensebaini, with 85 caps and a regular presence at Borussia Dortmund, seemed to have the edge. But new coach Brahim Hemdani’s first squad list reshuffled the deck: Ramiz Zerrouki and Houssem Aouar were not retained, while Bentaleb, whose call-up was already a surprise, kept his place in the group.

According to Winwin, Hemdani now has the choice between the two players to designate his captain. Bensebaini would start with a slight advantage, but Bentaleb presents arguments that are hard to ignore. The Lille midfielder discovered the national team as early as 2014, before Bensebaini, and has 63 caps despite a career marked by interruptions — notably an eight-month absence due to a heart condition.

This irregularity is precisely Bensebaini’s main strength in this comparison: the defender has established himself as an indispensable element of the Greens over the years, without the breaks that have punctuated his competitor’s international career. Twenty-two more caps on the counter, a consistency rarely questioned: all arguments that speak in his favor.

The matter remains open nonetheless. Hemdani, who has already shown his willingness to surprise in his selection choices, could decide in favor of Bentaleb’s raw experience or Bensebaini’s consistency. The decision should come during Algeria’s next gatherings.