Algeria name squad for Togo qualifiers without Luca Zidane and Ilan Kebbal

Algeria coach Ibrahim Hamdani has left out goalkeeper Luca Zidane and Paris FC midfielder Ilan Kebbal from his squad for the two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches against Togo on 14 and 17 November.

Zidane, the son of France manager Zinedine Zidane, is among several notable absentees from the squad, which was announced on Thursday.

Hamdani said his decision to omit the goalkeeper was based solely on sporting considerations, particularly the need for regular playing time.

“I made my choices according to a sporting criterion, especially in the goalkeeper position, which is a very specific one,” Hamdani told French newspaper L’Equipe. “I needed three goalkeepers with as much playing time as possible. The three selected have played the most since the previous camp, and that is the only reason for my choice.”

The goalkeeping places have gone to USM Alger’s Oussama Benbot, Swiss club Lausanne’s Melvin Mastil and MC Alger goalkeeper Abdellatif Ramadan.

Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, Houssem Aouar, Paris FC player Samir Cherki, Baghdad Bounedjah and Ismael Bennacer are also absent.

There are two first-time call-ups, with CSKA Moscow player Mohamed Aouzi and Deportivo Alaves forward Abdelrahman Rebbach included. Rafik Belghali, Hicham Boudaoui, Yacine Titraoui and Fares Kadjemies are among those returning to the national team.

The full Algeria squad is:

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Mastil (Lausanne), Abdellatif Ramadan (MC Alger).

Defenders: Rafik Belghali (Torino), Achref Abada (USM Alger), Zineddine Belaid (Al Taawoun), Rami Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Mohamed Aouzi (CSKA Moscow), Yasser Hachad (Brighton), Souhaib Nair (Saint-Etienne), Ahmed Touba (Le Havre).

Midfielders: Himad Abdelli (Olympique de Marseille), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Abdelrahman Rebbach (Deportivo Alaves), Yacine Titraoui (Lens).

Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (Nice), Monsef Bekrar (Al Ahly), Bachir Belloumi (Hull City), Adel Boulbina (Al-Diriyah), Amin Chiakha (Rosenborg), Fares Kadjemies (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Olympique de Marseille), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord).

Algeria currently lead their qualifying group with four points. They began with a 3-1 victory over Zambia before drawing 2-2 with Burundi, and will aim to strengthen their position in the two matches against Togo.