Luka Zidane left out of Algeria squad as الاهلي forward Monsef Bekrar earns recall

Ibrahim Hamdani has named his first Algeria squad since replacing Vladimir Petkovic, with goalkeeper Luka Zidane absent through suspension and الاهلي المصري forward Monsef Bekrar included.

Algeria will play Zambia and Burundi in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations during the next international window, before facing Niger in a friendly.

According to RMC Sport, Zidane is one of several notable absentees from the squad. The goalkeeper, who started for Algeria at the last World Cup, is suspended for the team’s next two matches.

The son of Zinedine Zidane was punished after reacting angrily at the end of Algeria’s quarter-final against Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Bekrar, meanwhile, has been called up from الاهلي المصري as Hamdani begins his tenure with the national side.

Algeria squad

Goalkeepers: Melvin Mastel, Abdelatif Ramdane, Kylian Belazzoug

Defenders: Achref Abada, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Zinedine Belaid, Ramy Bensebaini, Samir Cherki, Jaouen Hadjam, Souhaib Nair, Saadi Radouani, Ahmed Touba

Midfielders: Himad Abdelli, Adel Aouchiche, Nabil Bentaleb, Fares Chaibi, Ibrahim Maza, Adam Zorgane

Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura, Monsef Bekrar, Bachir Belloumi, Adel Boulbina, Amine Chiakha, Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa, Ilan Kebbal

The squad has been selected for the qualifiers against Zambia and Burundi, as well as the friendly against Niger.