Baghdad Bounedjah omitted from Algeria squad despite Al-Shamal heroics

Baghdad Bounedjah’s impressive performance for Al-Shamal against Al-Hilal has not been enough to earn him a recall to the Algeria squad, with his name reportedly absent from Brahim Hemdani’s extended selection for November.

The Al-Shamal captain scored in his side’s 3-1 victory over Al-Hilal in the Asian Champions League, converting a Riyad Mahrez cross in the 48th minute to restore his team’s lead.

Bounedjah had already gone close before half-time, when a move ended with Mahrez seeing his effort cleared off the line. His movement, determination and presence in the penalty area underlined his continued ability to trouble a side containing several internationally renowned players, despite approaching his 35th birthday.

The goal was Bounedjah’s second in the continental competition and appeared to offer a potential argument for his return to the Algeria set-up. However, according to information published by Competition, he has not even been included in the wider list drawn up by Hemdani for next month’s international gathering.

Hemdani has considered a number of forwards and recalled Fares Ghedjemis, making Bounedjah’s omission more notable. His return had still been viewed as a possibility for November only a few weeks ago.

There is a sporting case for selecting him. Algeria are yet to settle on a clear successor to Islam Slimani, following the striker’s international retirement. Bounedjah would bring experience, familiarity with African football and the ability to operate as a focal point – qualities the team can sometimes lack.

His age, however, works against him. Hemdani is attempting to establish a new cycle and Bounedjah is no longer a long-term option. That consideration may not fully explain why he has been left out.

A disciplinary dispute dating back to the last Africa Cup of Nations continues to circulate as a possible factor, although Hemdani has not publicly confirmed it. Bounedjah’s conduct during the tournament had previously been mentioned as a reason for his absence from the 2026 World Cup, and the episode may still be influencing the coaching staff’s decisions.

At his first news conference, Hemdani said the door would never be permanently closed to any player. In practice, though, the path back for Bounedjah appears to be narrowing with every international break.

Any departure from international football without a formal farewell would be a difficult ending for the man who scored the goal that gave Algeria the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title against Senegal. Bounedjah has spent a decade with the Fennecs, experiencing major successes and disappointments, but has never played at a World Cup.

His disappearance from the national team would echo the abrupt international departures of Karim Ziani and Anthar Yahia, two other important Algeria figures who left without a definitive goodbye. Even a standout display in Asia’s most prestigious club competition has not changed Hemdani’s position.