Adlène Guedioura omitted as Algeria names 23-man World Cup squad
Algiers, 16 May 2025
Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic has announced his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil, with notable omission of Crystal Palace midfielder Adlène Guedioura.
The exclusion saw Guedioura promptly leave the team’s hotel to begin his holiday, while the squad includes exciting talents such as Tottenham’s promising Nabil Bentaleb, who emerged as a star this season, alongside La Liga’s dribbling maestro Yacine Brahimi and Valencia’s Sofiane Feghouli.
Despite an MRI scan on Sunday, Hassan Yebda has been retained in the squad, which also features forwards Hilal Soudani and Islam Slimani.
Algeria will be represented in the domestic league by two goalkeepers: Mohamed Zemmamouche (USM Alger) and Mohamed Cédric (CS Constantine).
Drawn in Group H, the Fennecs face tough opponents Belgium, Russia, and South Korea in their bid to advance.
Algeria’s World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers:
Rais Mbolhi (CSKA Sofia), Mohamed Zemmamouche (USM Alger), Mohamed Cédric (CS Constantine)
Defenders:
Essaid Belkalem (Watford), Madjid Bougherra (free agent), Lyassine Cadamuro (Real Mallorca), Faouzi Ghoulam (Naples), Rafik Halliche (Academica Coimbra), Aissa Mandi (Reims), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio), Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Djamel Mesbah (Livorno)
Midfielders:
Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Yacine Brahimi (Granada), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Hassan Yebda (Udinese)
Forwards:
Abdelmoumen Djabou (Club Africain), Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Ryad Mahrez (Leicester City), Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb), Nabil Ghilas (FC Porto)
As preparations intensify, Algeria will look to this balanced squad to make an impact on football’s biggest stage.
