Algeria is moving towards the CAN of redemption without certainty. African champions in 2019, the Fennecs were chased out of the group stage in 2021 and 2024. Since then, Vladimir Petkovic replaced Djamel Belmadi, the Algerians have collected victories and – above all – they qualified for the 2026 World Cup, after missing the 2018 and 2022 meetings.
However, they have rarely been able to measure themselves against opponents of their standing for two years. The African Cup of Nations is a goal, but will also be a revelation.
Algeria calendar
The list of selected players
Guardians : Anthony Mandrea (Caen), Luca Zidane (Granada), Oussama Benbot (USM Algiers/ALG)
Defenders : Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verone/ITA), Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City/ANG), Youcef Atal (Al-Sadd/QAT), Mehdi Dorval (Bari/ITA), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys/SUI), Zineddine Belaïd (JS Kabylie/ALG), Ramy Bensebaïni (Dotmund/ALL), Samir Chergui (Paris). FC), Aïssa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Tougai (Espérance de Tunis/TUN)
Midfielders : Ismaël Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb/CRO), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente/NED), Adem Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Himad Abdelli (Angers SCO), Farès Chaïbi (Francfort/ALL), Ibrahim Maza (Leverkusen/ALL)
Attackers : Mohammed Amoura (Wolfsburg/ALL), Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli/ARS), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord/NED), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail/QAT), Monsef Bakrar (Dinamo Zagreb/CRO), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al-Shamal/QAT), Redouane Berkane (Al-Wakrah/QAT)
The player to watch: Anis Hadj Moussa
He only had one start with Algeria, but he led his team to victory against one of the toughest opponents encountered in the last two years. Against Saudi Arabia in mid-November (2-0), Anis Hadj Moussa displayed his range of dribbling to contribute to his team’s two goals. Still in Belgian D2 at the start of 2024, the winger revealed himself at Feyenoord in the Champions League and in the Netherlands. If his team lacks ideas, it can rely on the creativity of the Paris native (23 years old).
