Algeria begin 2027 AFCON qualifying without four World Cup squad members

Algeria will start their bid to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations without four players who were part of their 2026 World Cup squad, including recently retired captain Riyad Mahrez.

The Fennecs, who reached the last 16 at the 2026 World Cup, return to competitive action in September as the 2026-27 international calendar begins. They open their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign at home to Zambia before travelling to face Burundi.

Head coach Vladimir Petkovic, who is set to remain in charge despite Algeria’s disappointing World Cup exit, will be forced into changes for those first two group matches.

Mahrez and long-serving defender Aissa Mandi will both be absent after announcing their international retirements, while goalkeeper Luca Zidane and full-back Rafik Belghali are suspended.

Mahrez and Mandi bow out

Mahrez, the former captain and one of Algeria’s most high-profile players of his generation, confirmed his decision to retire from international football after the 2-0 victory over Switzerland on 3 July, Algeria’s final match at the World Cup.

Mandi, a mainstay of the back line over the past decade, followed him into retirement the following week, drawing a close to his own lengthy spell with the national team.

Their departures mean Petkovic must do without two of his most experienced figures as Algeria look to make a strong start in a qualifying group where every early point could prove significant.

Zidane and Belghali serving bans

Zidane and Belghali are unavailable for disciplinary reasons linked to the 2025 AFCON, where Algeria exited at the quarter-final stage.

Both players were sanctioned for offences committed during that last-eight tie. Zidane received a two-match suspension, while Belghali was handed a four-match ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), with two of those games suspended.

Those punishments apply only to official competitive fixtures, meaning the pair remain eligible to feature in friendly internationals during the same period.

Friendlies under consideration

The Algerian Football Federation is exploring the option of arranging one or two friendly fixtures between 21 September and 6 October to fill the international window around the two qualifiers.

Any such matches would allow Petkovic to call up Zidane and Belghali despite their competitive suspensions, giving the coach an opportunity to keep them involved with the squad and assess options in goal and at full-back.

By contrast, Mahrez and Mandi will not be available under any circumstances, having formally stepped away from international duty.

Algeria’s opening clashes against Zambia and Burundi will therefore mark the beginning of a new phase for Petkovic’s side, as they look to rebuild after a frustrating World Cup campaign while laying early foundations for a place at the 2027 AFCON.