Hemdani names Algeria squad without Luca Zidane
Coach Brahim Hemdani selected 26 players for the CAN 2027 qualifiers against Togo, excluding Luca Zidane and Rayan Aït Nouri.
Algeria's national football team coach Brahim Hemdani announced a 26-player squad on Thursday, November 5, for two upcoming matches against Togo in the CAN 2027 qualifiers. Notably absent from the list are Luca Zidane and Rayan Aït Nouri, the latter being dropped due to a disciplinary issue during the last training camp. The squad includes two new players, Mohamed Azzi and Abderrahmane Rebbach, and recalls several players who missed the previous camp.
Hemdani explained Luca Zidane's exclusion was based on sporting criteria, specifically prioritizing goalkeepers with maximum playing time. "I made my choices on a sporting criterion, on this position which is really particular," Hemdani stated. "I needed to have a choice between three goalkeepers who had maximum playing time." Rayan Aït Nouri's absence is seen as a consequence of a past outburst, though his limited game time at Manchester City may also be a factor.
The midfield sees the return of Nabil Bentaleb and Hicham Boudaoui from injury, along with Titraoui. Abderrahmane Rebbach from Deportivo Alavés receives his first call-up, while Aouchiche and Zorgane are omitted. The attack remains largely unchanged, with Ghedjemis replacing Kebbal. The team will face Togo on November 14 and November 17.
Why it mattersAlgerian football fans will be interested in the national team's selection for the upcoming CAN 2027 qualifiers.