Vladimir Petkovic, the national coach of the Algeria team, has put together his list in anticipation of the double confrontation against Togo on behalf of the 3rd and 4th days of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (CAN-2025 ).
The coach should not delay in revealing the contingent on which he plans to bet to continue the performance and ensure qualification for the final phase from the next Fifa window. According to information in our possession, he has decided to give a boost to the Greens squad by recalling the young talents of the selection, who are currently excelling with their respective clubs. As a result, we expect to see Farès Chaïbi, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder again. A return which will mark the end of an absence of almost six months, Chaïbi’s last summons dating back to last March. It must be said that the player’s absence during the June and September training courses sparked heated controversy in Algeria, both among supporters and in the media. Petkovic found himself in a delicate position, forced to justify the exclusion of the young player, who had nevertheless chosen the Greens from a young age.
Chaïbi, the ideal replacement for Bennacer
It was even mentioned that this sidelining was linked to disciplinary reasons, but not confirmed by both parties. This return of Chaïbi to the selection will therefore be closely scrutinized, while the expectations around him are still as high. The 21-year-old player could appear in the final list of the Algerian national team for the next meeting, especially since the coach, Vladimir Petkovic, would see in him the ideal player to compensate for the absence of Ismaël Bennacer, midfielder of the AC Milan, in the strategic role of relay between defense and attack. The moment seems propitious for Chaïbi to make his return to the selection, after having fully grasped the message sent by the Swiss coach through his exclusion from the two previous gatherings. The young Eintracht Frankfurt talent is among the fittest players currently, a major asset for the Greens.
Belaïli, Belloumi et Bouanani la triplette “B”
The same sources report that other good news is looming for Algerian supporters. Indeed, promising youngsters Mohamed Bachir Belloumi (22), who plays for Hull City, and Badredine Bouanani (19), OGC Nice player, should also be included in the expanded list. These two players, as well as Youcef Belaïli, recently transferred to Esperance de Tunis, have a good chance of appearing in Petkovic’s final list for the next camp. On the other hand, Anis Hadj-Moussa, star of Feyenoord, should be excluded from Petkovic’s choices, thus reinforcing the possibility of seeing Chaïbi, Belloumi and Bouanani defending the colors of Algeria during the next rounds. Hadj-Moussa (22), who has suffered from a lack of playing time with Feyenoord since the start of the season, will not be called up for the next gathering of the Algerian national team. His inclusion during the two previous training sessions had divided supporters and observers, with many believing that his level was lower than that of Mohamed Bachir Belloumi, Badredine Bouanani and Youcef Belaïli.
Mahrez sees the hierarchy shaken up
In addition to the absence of Hadj-Moussa, Vladimir Petkovic still does not know if he will summon Riyad Mahrez, star of Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. The captain of the Greens, who returned at the last Fifa window in September, is struggling to regain the fullness of his means, both physical and technical. Certainly, he was a scorer and decisive passer this Monday during the victory (2-0) in the AFC Champions League match between Al-Ahli SC and Al-Wasl SC, but he should be more convincing. It must be said that there is no shortage of options for the right winger position in a sector where competition is tough. With the recent performances of Belaïli, Belloumi and Bouanani, Petkovic could give these young guns a golden chance. Their inclusion in the final national team roster for the upcoming camp would be a recognition of their progress and current form. This renewal could breathe a breath of fresh air into the Greens’ attack for the upcoming deadlines.
