AFCON 2025: Algerian Ramy Bensebaïni faces fitness test ahead of tournament

Algerian international Ramy Bensebaïni faces uncertainty over his match readiness with less than two weeks remaining before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Borussia Dortmund defender has seen limited minutes this season, raising questions about his ability to enter the tournament fully fit.

Bensebaïni returned to Dortmund’s squad for the UEFA Champions League clash against Villarreal on November 2 but did not feature.

In the following three matches, he appeared only briefly as a late substitute—once in the Bundesliga and once in the cup against Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Niko Kovac has opted to rely on Nico Schlotterbeck, who has even assumed the captain’s armband in Bensebaïni’s absence.

Schlotterbeck has performed strongly, scoring once and providing two assists in his last five appearances, highlighting Kovac’s confidence in alternatives ahead of AFCON.

This approach mirrors a common strategy among European clubs: managing the workload of players expected to depart for continental tournaments.

Serhou Guirassy at his club has retained a regular starting spot, largely because Guinea will not participate in AFCON. In contrast, Bensebaïni must balance club appearances with preparation for Algeria’s campaign.

Algerian coach Vladimir Petkovic counts on Bensebaïni as a key figure in defense, making his fitness a priority.

The player has two remaining matches with Dortmund before joining the national team’s pre-AFCON training camp on December 15.

Observers will monitor both his minutes and performance closely, as full match fitness is critical for Algeria’s ambitions in the tournament.

With the countdown to AFCON accelerating, Dortmund’s management and Petkovic must navigate Bensebaïni’s condition carefully to ensure he can contribute effectively to Algeria’s defense in Morocco.

His readiness may prove decisive in the early stages of the competition.