Six players who were left out of Brahim Hemdani’s first Algeria squad could return for the November international break, when the Fennecs face Togo in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria are due to play Togo on 14 and 17 November in the third and fourth rounds of qualifying, with changes expected from the squad selected for the previous camp.
Among the potential returnees are four players who were omitted at the coach’s discretion despite being part of Algeria’s 2026 World Cup group. According to journalist Samir Kaabouche, they are Nabil Bentaleb, Yacine Titraoui, Hicham Boudaoui and Nadhir Benbouali.
Bentaleb is valued for his leadership, while the other three players could also be brought back into the squad as Hemdani reshapes his options.
At centre-forward, Nadhir Benbouali of Pyramids is reportedly ahead of Baghdad Bounedjah in the selection pecking order. That would mark a change from the expectation a few days ago, when Bounedjah appeared the more likely candidate to return after producing strong performances for Al-Shamal.
The veteran was not selected for the World Cup by former Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic.
Rafik Belghali and Luca Zidane are also available again after completing their suspensions. Belghali’s inclusion could, however, depend on the outcome of further medical examinations following the injury that forced him off while playing for Torino this weekend.
Zidane had been under scrutiny within the coaching staff because of his form at Leganes. He is now expected to be selected ahead of Ryan Yesli, while Melvin Mastil and Abdellatif Ramdane are likely to retain their places.
Other players under consideration
Further returns or first-time selections have not been ruled out. The players being considered include Ramiz Zerrouki, another member of Algeria’s 2026 World Cup squad, as well as Ismael Bennacer, Akim Zedadka, Chouaib Boulkaboul, Rayan Aqacem, Kelyann Bezahaf, Mohamed Azzi, Rafik Messali and Fahem Benaissa-Yahia.
Zineddine Belaid, Ilan Kebbal, Adil Aouchiche and Monsef Bakrar are reported to be at risk of losing their places.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is also very likely to be left out after refusing to apologise for his behaviour towards Hemdani.
Yacine Adli is expected to remain excluded despite apologising for comments considered offensive towards Algeria. Yanis Massolin cannot be selected because of an administrative eligibility issue.