Algeria: Illan Kebbal hails emerging Algerian Talents as top players

Algeria midfielder Illan Kebbal has praised the new wave of young internationals, describing several rising stars as exceptional talents with long-term potential for the national team.

The Paris FC playmaker reflected on his integration into the squad and the quality of the players now joining the setup.

Kebbal, who first received a call-up at 23 but did not make his debut until four years later, said he had been impressed by the competition and creativity within the group.

There are some top players, personally, I love Hadj Moussa, he’s the kind of player I like to watch and like to play with too, he said, highlighting the Feyenoord winger’s impact and technical quality.

Kebbal also reserved strong praise for Ibrahim Maza, the 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder who has quickly established himself among Europe’s most promising young playmakers.

Maza is also a top player. He’s very, very young, but he already has a lot of maturity in his game. He’s a 20-year-old who plays like someone who is 30; he’s ready to go very far, he said.

Asked about dual nationals opting for Algeria at an early stage in their careers, Kebbal singled out Maza as an example of a player whose ability could have taken him into any national team.

For example, Ibrahim Maza, I think that at that moment, he could have played anywhere. If he had chosen Germany, he might have been called up to the Mannschaft. Dual nationals simply make a choice of the heart, so kudos to them.

He emphasised the importance of such early commitments for Algeria’s future.

Especially since Maza made it very, very early, and that’s great for the country because he’s a top player. Knowing that Algeria has him for at least 10, 15 good years is exceptional, Kebbal added.

The midfielder’s comments reflect growing excitement around Algeria’s new generation, with several young talents emerging across major European leagues and strengthening hopes for long-term stability within the national team.