Oussama Benbot has announced his retirement from international football just 72 hours after Algeria’s exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, writing formally to the president of the Algerian Football Federation to bring his time with the Fennecs to a close.
The timing of the decision has sent shockwaves through Algerian football.
The USM Alger goalkeeper had been included in Vladimir Petković’s tournament squad but emerged as the only outfield or goalkeeping player not to be granted a single minute of action during the campaign.
With the World Cup less than five months away, Benbot’s withdrawal has inevitably cast a harsh light on the handling of Algeria’s goalkeeping department.
On paper, Benbot arrived in Morocco as the presumed deputy to Lucas Zidane and a legitimate contender for the number-one role.
Yet he remained rooted to the bench throughout the competition.
Even in the final group match against Equatorial Guinea — a fixture stripped of competitive tension after Algeria had already secured qualification — Petković elected to rotate his squad but still did not turn to Benbot.
Instead, Anthony Mandréa was handed the start, effectively extinguishing any realistic hope Benbot had of featuring.
The decision baffled observers. Mandréa had not initially been part of the core goalkeeping hierarchy and was drafted in following Guendouz’s injury.
It was also at odds with Petković’s earlier public stance, in which he had stressed that he was reluctant to call up players operating in the third division.
Benbot, an experienced campaigner in continental competitions, appeared to fit the profile of a dependable alternative.
Yet when an opportunity arose to test him in a low-pressure environment, it never materialised.
This sequence of events provides essential context to Benbot’s announcement.
In his letter, described as respectful and appreciative in tone, the goalkeeper nonetheless made it clear that his frustration had reached a breaking point.
He had played his part in qualification for both the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup, only to watch the finals unfold from the sidelines.
For a player who believed he had earned at least a cameo appearance, the silence from the technical bench proved decisive.
Rather than remain in a role he no longer recognised as meaningful, Benbot chose to step away.
His departure is therefore not merely the end of an individual journey but a reflection of deeper uncertainty within the national setup.
The fluctuating pecking order, statements that appeared contradicted by team selection, and opaque decision-making have left supporters and analysts questioning the coherence of Algeria’s planning.
As the Fennecs regroup after a disappointing AFCON, the retirement of a goalkeeper who never left the bench has become emblematic of a broader unease.
The management of the last line of defence, often the backbone of any successful international side, now demands urgent clarity.
For Benbot, the chapter has closed.
For Algeria, the questions his exit raises are only just beginning.
