Algeria's AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Squad: Hemdani Drops Aouar and Boudaoui in Bold First Selection
Photo: CAF
New Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left out Houssem Aouar and Hicham Boudaoui from his first squad, as the Desert Foxes begin a new era ahead of qualifiers against Zambia and Burundi.
New Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has made his first big statement without kicking a ball — leaving out Houssem Aouar and Hicham Boudaoui from his debut squad as head coach, succeeding Vladimir Petkovic.
Hemdani has named 26 players for the September window, which includes qualifiers against Zambia and Burundi plus a friendly against Niger. The Aouar and Boudaoui omissions are described as technical decisions by the new coaching staff rather than injury-related — Luca Zidane and Rafik Belghali are unavailable through suspension, and Yacine Titraoui is out injured, but the midfield duo's absence is different.
What's changed, and what hasn't
Hemdani has largely kept the foundations of the squad intact. Ramy Bensebaini and Rayan Aït-Nouri provide experience in defence alongside Zineddine Belaïd, Jaouen Hadjam and Ahmed Touba, with Achref Abada, Samir Chergui, Sohaib Naïr and Saâdi Radouani completing a nine-man defensive group.
In midfield, experienced figure Nabil Bentaleb remains part of the group, joined by Himad Abdelli, Adil Aouchiche, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza and Adem Zagence — the reshaped engine room the new coach will build around.
Attack: competition for places
Mohamed Amoura and Amine Gouiri lead an eight-man forward line that also includes Anis Hadj Moussa, Bachir Belloumi, Monsef Bakrar, Adil Boulbina, Amin Chiakha and Ilan Kebbal.
A new cycle after a World Cup exit
Hemdani's appointment follows Algeria's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and this window is his first real chance to start shaping a squad in his own image. The Aouar and Boudaoui decisions don't necessarily mean the end of their international careers — but they do signal that places in this Algeria squad are being freshly contested.
Full Algeria squad
Goalkeepers: Melvin Mastil, Abdelatif Ramdane, Kilian Belazzoug
Defenders: Achref Abada, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaïd, Ramy Bensebaini, Samir Chergui, Jaouen Hadjam, Sohaib Naïr, Saâdi Radouani, Ahmed Touba
Midfielders: Himad Abdelli, Adil Aouchiche, Nabil Bentaleb, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza, Adem Zagence
Forwards: Mohamed Amoura, Monsef Bakrar, Bachir Belloumi, Adil Boulbina, Amin Chiakha, Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa, Ilan Kebbal
Tracking Algeria's road to East Africa
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Squad information sourced from CAF's official announcement, 18 September 2026.
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