But what’s happening with Farès Chaïbi?

For several years, Algeria has not stopped disappointing. Despite a memorable 2019 CAN, the Fennecs have not won anything since and are coming out of several fiascos that have cost Djamel Belmadi his place on the national team bench. Indeed, miserable during the 2021 CAN, the teammates of an insipid Riyad Mahrez were again eliminated during the group stage of the 2023 version in Côte d’Ivoire. A double disappointment to which must be added the terrible non-qualification for the 2022 World Cup during a goal at the end of the match by Karl Toko Ekambi. After all these humiliations, the Algerian Federation decided to strike hard by appointing Vladimir Petkovic at the beginning of the year.

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Author of a mixed start to his record, the Bosnian coach distinguished himself by refusing to call up Riyad Mahrez twice. While the hatchet seems to have been buried with the Al-Ahli winger, another case is problematic for the Desert Warriors: that of Farès Chaïbi. Called up for the first time with Djamel Belmadi in 2023, the Bron native is clearly persona non grata under the orders of Vladimir Petkovic. However, the Eintracht Frankfurt player has been stringing together convincing performances in Germany and is more than up to the level to claim a starting spot in the Algerian eleven.

To read
Algeria-Equatorial Guinea: official line-ups

Vladimir Petkovic’s Nebulous Explanations

Author of 4 goals and 11 assists in 39 games for his first season on the other side of the Rhine, the player trained at TFC does not however fit into the plans of a selection that he decided to join despite the requests of the youth teams in France. Already not called up last June, Chaïbi had to make do with unconvincing explanations from his new coach: “Yes, Chaïbi finished the season well, but his level lacked consistency. In other words, there were ups and downs. He is a young player with a promising future, but he must redouble his efforts to return to the national team.»

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Given Algeria’s offensive pool, claiming that Chaïbi is not at the level to be called up is not a viable explanation. Once again asked about the absence of the 21-year-old talent for the September gathering, Petkovic once again delivered dubious justifications, almost accusing the player of being too versatile: “Chaïbi is a good player. I follow him a lot. I preferred to take players who have well-established positions like Hadj Moussa or Sayoud. Chaïbi, I follow him and every weekend we evaluate him.“But what is hidden behind this rather absurd situation?

While the Algerian media are talking about behavioral problems behind this sidelining, no plausible reason has been given for the moment. Which logically frustrates the versatile midfielder who is also turning silent. One thing is now certain: Petkovic must not miss the next two matches of the Fennecs against Equatorial Guinea (this Thursday, 9 p.m.) and Liberia (Tuesday, 6 p.m.) for the qualifiers for the next CAN. Otherwise, the absentees are always wrong and Chaïbi could wait a long time before being recalled…