Algeria unveil final AFCON test squad as Petkovic makes bold November choices
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic named a 27-man squad for the national team’s November training camp, shaping what many see as the final dress rehearsal before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Greens face Zimbabwe on 13 November and Saudi Arabia on 18 November in Jeddah, two friendlies that carry clear tournament weight as AFCON begins on 21 December and ends on 18 January.
Petkovic’s picks bring back familiar leaders, introduce new possibilities and close the door on other long-talked options.
The coach clearly approached this camp with competitive balance in mind and tournament structure in sight.
In goal, the trio remains unchanged. Alexis Guendouz, Luca Zidane and Oussama Benbot all keep their places, forming a stable core between the posts.
None of the three face immediate replacement pressure, and Petkovic shows confidence in continuity where leadership and composure matter most.
Algeria’s defensive unit welcomes back one of its most dynamic elements. Rayan Aït-Nouri returns after missing both the September and October international windows.
His re-entry offers width, speed and build-up push from left-back, giving Algeria a transition weapon they lacked in his absence.
On the opposite flank, Youcef Atal does not make the squad as fitness remains a hurdle he still works to clear.
His absence opens room for others to consolidate depth.
Mehdi Dorval stays in the manager’s plans, a signal of trust, but the headline moment in defense belongs to Elias Benkara.
Few expected the young central defender’s inclusion, yet Petkovic makes the call anyway, handing him an early spotlight and a platform to fight for tournament relevance.
Training intensity, tactical discipline and positional understanding now become his proving ground.
Midfield shifts bring both expected and unexpected talking points.
Houssem Aouar returns after missing the previous camp, restoring creativity, link play and a vertical passing option Algeria missed in recent windows.
Ismaël Bennacer also ticks his name back on the sheet, a development that carries significant weight.
Regular action with Dinamo Zagreb revived his tempo, match rhythm and physical sharpness, factors that clearly influenced his recall.
Bennacer’s return boosts Algeria’s press resistance, tempo control and midfield authority.
Yet the most discussed midfield inclusion belongs to Yacine Titraoui. The RSC Charleroi playmaker earns his first call-up after months of external calls for his involvement.
His technical range, tempo shifts and attacking imagination finally earn national team backing.
The step up puts him in direct competition for influence with Ramiz Zerrouki, who also returns to the squad after his own recall.
If midfield brought debate, attack brought clarity.
Amine Gouiri remains unavailable after shoulder surgery, removing one of Algeria’s most promising forward options until after AFCON.
In a decision sure to fuel public reaction, Petkovic chooses not to recall Youcef Belaïli, despite four previous call-ups and repeated conversations around his role.
This omission sends one of the clearest signals of Petkovic’s roster direction yet.
The coach instead recalls Reda Bakrar, handing him his first opportunity since June 2024. Bakrar steps into the attacking group in place of Amin Chiakha, one of the notable omissions from this camp.
Badredine Bouanani and Yassine Benzia also miss out, thinning the pool of familiar forward choices in favour of a reworked attacking hierarchy.
This squad carries subtext. It tests balance, verifies fitness, settles depth conversations and gives Petkovic his clearest live draft of the Algeria team he wants in Morocco.
The decisions underline selection logic based on role clarity, physical readiness, structural fit and competitive trust rather than reputation alone.
The next two matches shape more than results. They shape hierarchy, final plans and tournament belief.
The countdown now carries faces, roles and consequences.
