Suspended after AFCON 2025, Luca Zidane absent from Hemdani's first squad

Brahim Hemdani has announced his first squad as head coach of the Algerian national team, and Luca Zidane is not included. The Fennecs’ starting goalkeeper is serving a two-match suspension handed down after the incidents that occurred on January 10 in Marrakech, the day after Algeria’s quarter-final elimination from AFCON 2025 against Nigeria (2-0). Right-back Rafik Belghali is also excluded for the same reason.

Algeria will begin its AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign during this two-week gathering, with away trips to Zambia and Burundi, before hosting Niger in a friendly at Tizi-Ouzou. In Zidane’s absence, 20-year-old Kylian Belazzoug, Stade Rennais’ third-choice goalkeeper, has been called up.

Hemdani, a former U20 head coach promoted to the senior team after the federation failed to recruit a high-profile coach — a Spanish or Portuguese option had been favoured — has also left out several key players: retired players Aïssa Mandi and Riyad Mahrez, as well as sidelined players Hicham Boudaoui, Ramiz Zerrouki, Houssem Aouar and Yacine Titraoui. In total, thirteen players from the last World Cup squad are missing.

Among notable returns, Himad Abdelli and Adil Aouchiche are back in midfield, while Ilan Kebbal, overlooked by the previous coach, finally receives a call-up. He will join offensive leaders Ibrahim Maza, Mohamed Amoura — now at Nice —, Anis Hadj Moussa and Amine Gouiri.

The squad also includes several Ligue 1 players: Le Havre defender Ahmed Touba, Paris FC left-back Samir Chergui and LOSC midfielder Nabil Bentaleb. The absence of Le Mans midfielder Adil Bourabaa, in fine form this season, is notably striking.