Algeria now knows the players who will represent them at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Coach Vladimir Petkovic has announced a squad that strikes a good balance between experience, established players at the highest level, and rising young talents, with the clear ambition of restoring the Fennecs to the forefront of continental football.

 

Unsurprisingly, Riyad Mahrez is the star attraction. The Algerian captain will be one of the main attacking leaders of a squad that also relies on Ismaël Bennacer to orchestrate the midfield and on the defensive solidity embodied by Ramy Bensebaïni. Alongside these key players, Petkovic has selected several established European talents, such as Rayan Aït-Nouri, Mohammed Amine Amoura, and Baghdad Bounedjah.

 

French Ligue 1 is also well represented with the inclusion of Aïssa Mandi (Lille) and Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), as well as Samir Chergui and Ilan Kebbal, both from Paris FC. However, the absence of Himad Abdelli, who has impressed with Angers, is one of the biggest surprises on this list.

 

The coach has also opted to include players in excellent form this season, such as Ibrahim Maza (Leverkusen), Farès Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), and Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord). Also noteworthy is the call-up of Lucas Zidane, Granada's goalkeeper and son of Zinedine Zidane, who provides an additional option at the goalkeeper position.

 

With this dense and balanced group, Vladimir Petkovic clearly shows his intentions: to build a competitive team, capable of competing with the best African nations and of placing Algeria among the serious contenders for the title at the 2025 AFCON. As a reminder, Algeria is placed in group E alongside Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso and Sudan.