AFCON 2025: Ilan Kebbal joins Algeria camp frustrated after Paris FC collapse

Ilan Kebbal arrived at Algeria’s training base with frustration written all over him after seeing his final club appearance before the Africa Cup of Nations end in disappointment.

Paris FC’s heavy 3–0 defeat to Toulouse at the Stade Jean-Bouin brought a bitter close to his club duties and left the Algerian international visibly disillusioned on the eve of his international call-up.

The Parisian side entered the fixture desperate for relief after a worrying run of form that had seen them claim just one victory in their previous eight matches.

Hopes of a response, however, were quickly extinguished by a Toulouse team that imposed itself early and never loosened its grip.

Defensive errors, familiar and recurring, once again proved costly, as Paris FC struggled to contain their opponents and watched the contest slip away.

In a performance largely devoid of positives for the home side, Kebbal stood out as one of the few players to emerge with credit.

Lively from the outset, the vice-captain carried the ball with intent and attempted to inject urgency into a team lacking confidence.

His audacious long-range strike in the opening stages came close to breaking the deadlock, and his individual commitment contrasted sharply with the collective collapse unfolding around him.

Despite his personal effort, Kebbal made no attempt to disguise his anger after the final whistle.

Speaking to Ligue 1+, he delivered a brutally honest assessment of Paris FC’s situation, pointing directly at issues that have plagued the team for weeks.

We conceded three goals again. I don’t think many teams concede goals like that. The problem is, we’ve been conceding the same goals, making the same mistakes for 15 matchdays now. What can I say? It’s deserved, he said.

The Algerian midfielder went further, describing a team gripped by doubt and fragility across all areas of the pitch.

It’s just that we’re very limited, whether it’s technically, offensively, defensively… We’re playing with fear, and it shows, you can feel it on the pitch, Kebbal added.

His words reflected a deeper malaise, one that he believes opponents now exploit with alarming ease.

They don’t come into the box as often, but as soon as they do, we panic, they score goals, and we knew it, he continued. It’s been like this for several matches now; we need to get our heads straight quickly because we’re the players on the pitch. At some point, if we don’t wake up, we’re going to start not getting any points, and that’s going to become quite serious. We’re fed up with conceding so many goals and losing matches like this.

For Kebbal, the emotional weight of that defeat followed him as he departed to join Algeria’s pre-tournament camp in Sidi Moussa.

While the mood is far from ideal, the focus will now shift toward a continental challenge that offers a chance for renewal.

With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching in Morocco, the midfielder will be expected to reset mentally and channel his intensity into the national cause.

Leaving behind club frustrations, Kebbal now faces the task of rediscovering joy and purpose in national colours.

For Algeria, his sharpness and honesty may prove valuable.

For the player himself, the tournament represents an opportunity to turn irritation into inspiration and begin a new chapter away from a bruising club setback.

Tags: Algeria, AFCON 2025, Ilan Kebbal, Paris FC, Africa Cup of Nations, Ligue 1, Desert Warriors