Algeria will open the Brahim Hemdani era at home to Zambia on 25 September, with the match set to take place at the Stade Hocine Ait Ahmed in Tizi Ouzou.
The fixture will be the first of two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches scheduled for the Fennecs during the next international window, which runs from 21 September to 6 October. The Algeria Football Federation (FAF) confirmed the programme following Hemdani’s appointment, with the dates having previously been announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
After facing Zambia, Algeria will travel to Burundi for their second Group qualifying match. That game will be played at the Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura on 29 September.
The national team will then return to Tizi Ouzou to meet Niger in a friendly on 6 October. The fixture has been arranged to complete Algeria’s schedule during what will be an extended international break.
For Hemdani, the September and October matches will represent his first work with Algeria’s senior side. His appointment comes only days after he helped the under-23 team win the gold medal at the 2026 Mediterranean Games.
The results and performances during this international window will play a significant role in deciding whether Hemdani remains in charge beyond the break. The FAF has therefore handed him a demanding first assignment, combining competitive matches in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a final friendly against Niger.
The gathering will also mark Algeria’s first return to international football since the retirements of Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi. Mahrez ended his international career with 119 caps and 40 goals, while Mandi finished with 122 appearances and eight goals.
Algeria have not lost to any of their three forthcoming opponents in the past seven years. Across eight meetings with Zambia, Burundi and Niger, they have recorded six victories and two draws.
Their record against Niger is particularly strong. Algeria have won all four of their previous matches against the Menas, scoring 13 goals and conceding two.
That unbeaten sequence provides a positive backdrop to Hemdani’s first senior assignment, although the opening two fixtures will carry competitive importance as Algeria begin their campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The home meeting with Zambia in Tizi Ouzou will be the first opportunity to assess the side under its new manager before the trip to Bujumbura four days later.
The friendly against Niger will bring the window to a close and give Hemdani a further opportunity to shape the team after the departures of two of Algeria’s most experienced international players.