Algeria’s central defensive pairing of Ramy Bensebaïni and Aïssa Mandi faces increasing uncertainty ahead of the national team’s return to action in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The long-anticipated Champions League clash between the two players failed to materialize, with both seeing minimal or no playing time as Borussia Dortmund and Lille played to a 1-1 draw in the round of 16 first leg on Tuesday night.
Limited minutes for Bensebaïni and Mandi
Bensebaïni, who has found himself increasingly sidelined at Dortmund, was left out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive match.
The Algerian defender was only introduced in the 83rd minute, managing just 12 minutes on the pitch, during which he completed just two of his five passes, won no duels, and covered minimal distance.
Meanwhile, Mandi remained an unused substitute for Lille, watching from the bench as the defensive duo of Alexsandro and Bafodé Diakité delivered a solid performance.
The return of Belgian veteran Thomas Meunier further complicated Mandi’s chances of securing a starting role, with Lille’s defensive lineup appearing settled for the time being.
Lack of game time poses problems for Algeria
The struggles of Bensebaïni and Mandi at club level come at a concerning time for Algeria, as Vladimir Petković prepares to name his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Botswana and Mozambique.
Adding to the defensive woes, Espérance de Tunis center-back Mohamed Amine Tougaï has already been ruled out due to injury, further limiting the coach’s options.
With Algeria aiming to secure top spot in their group— the only position that guarantees automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup—Petković now faces a difficult decision.
He must either persist with out-of-form defenders or seek alternative solutions to reinforce his backline.
Tactical adjustments on the horizon?
Given the defensive uncertainties, Petković may consider reverting to a traditional four-man defense rather than relying on his usual central pairing.
Alternatively, he could introduce new faces into the squad to bring fresh energy and competition to the backline.
With Algeria set to resume their qualifying campaign in less than two weeks, the situation surrounding Bensebaïni and Mandi will be closely monitored.
If their struggles at club level persist, the Greens may have to look beyond their once-established defensive duo in search of greater stability.
