Ilan Kebbal focused on making a big impact at AFCON 2025

With Algeria’s national team just hours away from flying to Morocco, Ilan Kebbal spoke calmly but confidently about the mood inside the squad ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Paris FC playmaker praised the atmosphere in camp, saying the players are happy to be reunited and are training together right up until departure “to try to have a great AFCON, insha’Allah,” reflecting the group’s serenity and focus.​

Kebbal stressed that everyone understands the scale of the challenge, explaining: “We are all ready. We know a big competition is coming, we’re making the final adjustments before leaving and we’ll be ready there,” while highlighting the intensity of the work under coach Vladimir Petkovic and his staff.

Aware of Algeria’s status, he remained cautious, noting that they are a great footballing nation but “favourites have already fallen in the past,” insisting that everything will be decided on the pitch, not on paper.​

He also underlined the strong team spirit, saying new players are always welcomed and quickly feel at ease inside the group. Reflecting on the two failed AFCON campaigns, Kebbal admitted the squad is fully aware of those disappointments and said they are working hard “to have a great tournament” and restore Algeria’s continental standing.