Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic will keep his senior squad fully intact for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, opting not to share players with the team participating in the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup—a decision made to avoid the costly error that contributed to Algeria’s early exit from the 2021 AFCON.
The Algerian Football Federation has confirmed that players from Petkovic’s first team will not feature in the Arab Cup this time around.
The announcement came during a press conference held at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, where domestic national team coach Madjid Bougherra spoke about the final qualifying round for the 2024 African Nations Championship.
“Each coach will manage his own squad,” said Bougherra, clarifying that the senior team’s resources will remain dedicated to their AFCON preparations.
This approach marks a deliberate departure from 2021, when several key players—including Baghdad Bounedjah, Youcef Belaïli, Djamel Benlamri, and Raïs M’Bolhi—were called up for Arab Cup duty just weeks before the African Cup of Nations.
Although high-profile names like Riyad Mahrez and Houssem Aouar would technically be eligible to play for the A’ team, they will not be involved in the Arab Cup, which is scheduled for 1–18 December 2025.
The tournament’s overlap with the AFCON—set to begin on 21 December in Morocco—presents a narrow recovery window that Petkovic does not intend to compromise.
In 2021, then-head coach Djamel Belmadi had initially allowed several key internationals to participate in the Arab Cup, with the idea of maintaining their match rhythm.
However, Algeria’s pursuit of the Arab title led to their heavy use, and the physical toll was evident.
The national team—then reigning African champions—crashed out of the AFCON group stage, triggering widespread criticism and contributing to Belmadi’s eventual departure.
“Chaining competitions can take a physical toll,” said Bougherra, in reference to the risk of overburdening key players.
The miscalculation four years ago has prompted a more cautious and pragmatic strategy this time around.
Algeria’s AFCON campaign will begin in Group E, where they face Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan.
Petkovic, aiming to restore Algeria’s continental standing, has made it clear that preparations will be singularly focused, and past missteps will not be repeated.
With expectations high and redemption in sight after two consecutive group-stage eliminations, the Fennecs are determined to prioritise performance over short-term gain.
