Brahim Hemdani handed Algeria home opener against Zambia

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has confirmed that Brahim Hemdani’s first match in charge of the senior national team will be against Zambia in Tizi Ouzou on 25 September.

The fixture will be played at Stade Hocine Ait Ahmed and forms part of Algeria’s opening international camp of the 2026-27 season. The FAF has also confirmed the rest of the schedule for the international window, which will run from 21 September to 6 October.

Following the meeting with Zambia, Algeria will travel to Bujumbura to face Burundi at Intwari Stadium on 29 September. Both matches will count towards the first two rounds of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Fennecs will then return to Tizi Ouzou for a friendly against Niger on 6 October. That game has been arranged to complete the extended international break.

Hemdani will take charge of the senior side for the first time only days after leading Algeria’s under-23 team to a gold medal at the 2026 Mediterranean Games. His work during the international window is expected to play a significant part in determining whether he remains in the position beyond the current period.

The appointment marks a new phase for Algeria, who will also begin their post-Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi era during the upcoming camp. Mahrez ended his international career with 119 caps and 40 goals, while Mandi retired after making 122 appearances and scoring eight times for his country.

Algeria have not lost to any of their three upcoming opponents in the past seven years. Across eight meetings involving Zambia, Burundi and Niger, they have recorded six wins and two draws, with no defeats.

Niger have proved Algeria’s most favourable opponent of the three. The Fennecs have beaten the Menas in all four of their previous meetings, scoring 13 goals and conceding only two.

The schedule gives Hemdani a competitive start to his tenure, with the first two fixtures carrying qualification importance before the friendly against Niger provides an opportunity to assess the squad in a less pressured setting.

The September camp will therefore combine the beginning of Algeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with the first examination of a new coach and a team adjusting to the international retirements of two long-serving figures.

For Hemdani, the opening match at Stade Hocine Ait Ahmed will provide his first opportunity to establish his approach with the senior side in front of a home crowd. His results across the three matches will be closely watched as Algeria begin the new season under fresh leadership.