Algeria selection: Saadi Radouani call-up questioned amid Anthar Yahia claims

Brahim Hemdani’s first Algeria squad has prompted debate after Saadi Radouani was included for the side’s forthcoming international fixtures, with some media reports suggesting the defender was selected at the request of assistant coach Anthar Yahia.

Hemdani has named 26 players for Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches against Zambia on 25 September in Tizi Ouzou and Burundi on 29 September in Bujumbura. The Fennecs will then face Niger in a friendly on 6 October, also in Tizi Ouzou.

Radouani’s return is one of the most notable features of Hemdani’s first selection since taking charge of Algeria A. The 31-year-old USM Alger captain has been recalled at right-back in the absence of Rafik Belghali, who is serving a four-match suspension, including two matches outright, imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over his conduct at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The call-up is unexpected given Radouani’s limited international experience. He had previously been called up only once, while his sole Algeria appearance came in October 2024 during the 5-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Togo.

Radouani has been preferred to several alternatives, including Akim Zedadka, also 31, who is beginning his Champions League campaign with Sabah. Kevin Guitoun, 30, of Charleroi, and 24-year-old Mohamed Azzi of CSKA Moscow were also overlooked despite both players making particularly strong starts to the season.

The decision has attracted criticism from part of the Algerian media, notably DZfoot, which has portrayed Radouani as a choice favoured by Anthar Yahia. Yahia brought the Ouargla-born defender back to his boyhood club in the summer of 2020, when he was serving as sporting director of USM Alger.

Questions have also been raised about Radouani’s record with Algeria’s national teams. He has not established himself with the A’ side, where he played only a secondary role at the 2023 and 2025 African Nations Championship tournaments.

He was an unused substitute three years ago and did not feature at all last year. As a result, Radouani’s performances are expected to receive close attention when Algeria begin their upcoming run of matches.