Hemdani confronted with his Algeria past at first press conference

Brahim Hemdani did not get an easy start. At his first press conference as head of the Algeria national team, Vladimir Petkovic’s successor was directly confronted with one of the most controversial episodes of his career: his choice to wear the Fennecs shirt only at age 30, in 2008, after building most of his career at Olympique de Marseille and Glasgow Rangers.

A question from an Algerian journalist left no room for ambiguity: “How, as a manager, will you convince players to join the national team when you yourself, as a player, turned your back on it?” The 48-year-old coach chose to answer straightforwardly, with a smile: “That’s good, you’re direct. I like direct people.”

Hemdani did not try to rewrite his path. Long sought after by the national team, he ultimately had only a very brief experience with the Fennecs, limited to four appearances in 2008. He owned this choice without hesitation: “When you build a career, you make choices. I stand by my choices.” The context of the early 2000s was nonetheless singular: Algerian football was evolving in an environment marked by the aftermath of the dark decade, which had deeply affected the national sport.

Despite this tense opening, the new manager displayed clear ambitions for what lies ahead. “I experienced the highest level as a player, high-stakes competitions too. I want to be in this dressing room and create a collective force to pursue ambitious objectives,” he said. His first squad list, already marked by notable renewal, testifies to a desire to turn the page. Hemdani also showed he understands the scale of the task beyond the pitch: “You don’t accept this position if you’re not ready to face the press and popular pressure.”