Ismaël Bennacer’s Al-Gharafa red card comes at crucial time for Algeria return

Ismaël Bennacer’s hopes of returning to the Algeria squad have suffered a setback after he was sent off on his Al-Gharafa debut just days before new manager Brahim Hemdani announces his first squad.

Bennacer was expected to begin his new chapter with Al-Gharafa in Tuesday’s Asian Champions League meeting with Al-Hilal, only 24 hours after completing his move to the Qatari club.

Instead, his first appearance ended after just 33 minutes.

The Algeria international was dismissed after reacting to an incident involving Crysencio Summerville and a Qatari player. When Summerville confronted the player, Bennacer intervened and pulled the Dutchman’s hair.

The referee responded by showing both players red cards, bringing Bennacer’s first match for Al-Gharafa to an early end. The club eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat.

The sending-off is particularly unfortunate for Bennacer because he needs regular football after several seasons affected by injuries and a prolonged period away from his best form.

The 28-year-old had already missed out on Algeria’s 2026 World Cup squad because of concerns surrounding his physical condition. His latest disciplinary setback could now make it more difficult for him to immediately establish himself under Hemdani.

Hemdani is due to announce his first Algeria squad on Thursday, giving Bennacer little time to make an impression before the selection is confirmed.

The appointment of a new manager has nevertheless created an opportunity for several former internationals to push for a return to the Greens. Bennacer’s experience could have placed him among those players hoping to benefit from the change.

His previous contribution to Algeria is also well established. In 2019, when he was 21, Bennacer was named the best player at the Africa Cup of Nations as Algeria won the tournament.

His technical ability and temperament made him an important figure in that successful generation, and his quality remains a reason for Algerian supporters to hope for his return.

However, his previous achievements cannot guarantee him a place in a national team entering a period of rebuilding.

Bennacer’s immediate task is therefore to return to regular football and produce consistent performances for Al-Gharafa. A strong run of games would give him an opportunity to demonstrate that he can regain his previous influence in midfield.

There had also been discussion about Bennacer potentially becoming a candidate for Algeria’s captaincy following Riyad Mahrez’s departure from the role, although Ramy Bensebaini currently appears to be the leading option.

For now, though, Bennacer’s priority is to put the red card behind him and focus on his performances at club level.

Hemdani’s first squad could be announced without the midfielder, but that would not necessarily end his chances of returning to the national team.

If the dismissal proves to be an isolated incident and Bennacer can rebuild his rhythm through regular appearances, further opportunities with Algeria could still follow.