Hemdani names 26-man Algeria squad for decisive Togo double-header, Aït-Nouri left out
Algeria head coach Brahim Hemdani on Thursday named a 26-man squad for back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo, bringing in two uncapped players and leaving out Manchester City defender Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Hemdani unveiled the list at a press conference at the Nelson-Mandela stadium in Baraki, on the outskirts of Algiers. The Greens will gather at the national technical centre in Sidi Moussa, host Togo on 14 November at 8pm at the Hocine-Aït-Ahmed stadium in Tizi Ouzou, then play the return match at the Kégué stadium in Lomé on 17 November at 5pm.
Seven changes and two new faces
The coach made seven changes to his September squad. CSKA Moscow right-back Mohamed Azzi and Deportivo Alavés midfielder Abderrahmane Rebbach receive their first call-ups. Torino’s Rafik Belghali returns after serving a suspension, while goalkeeper Oussama Benbot, Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui and Lens midfielder Yacine Titraoui are also back.
The most talked-about absence is that of Aït-Nouri, who has had limited playing time at his club and left the previous camp early after a dispute with the staff. No official reason was given for his omission. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, short of minutes at Leganés, and Paris FC midfielder Ilan Kebbal are also missing.
A pivotal week in Group I
After two matchdays, Algeria lead Group I with four points, following a 3-1 home win over Zambia and a 2-2 draw in Burundi. Togo and Zambia have three points each, Burundi one. Only the top two qualify for the finals, to be held from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
A win in Tizi Ouzou would open a gap on a direct rival before a difficult trip to Lomé, where Togo, coached by Frenchman Patrice Neveu, beat Burundi on the opening matchday. Hemdani, who has pointed to defensive shortcomings in recent weeks, will also want a tighter back line after the two goals conceded in Burundi.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Mastil (Lausanne-Sport), Abdelatif Ramdane (MC Alger).
Defenders: Achref Abada (USM Alger), Mohamed Azzi (CSKA Moscow), Zineddine Belaïd (Al-Taawoun), Rafik Belghali (Torino), Ramy Bensebaïni (Borussia Dortmund), Jaouen Hadjam (Brighton), Sohaib Naïr (Saint-Étienne), Ahmed Touba (Le Havre).
Midfielders: Himad Abdelli (Marseille), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Farès Chaïbi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Abderrahmane Rebbach (Deportivo Alavés), Yacine Titraoui (Lens).
Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (Nice), Monsef Bakrar (Al Ahly), Bachir Belloumi (Hull City), Adil Boulbina (Al-Diriyah), Amin Chiakha (Rosenborg), Farès Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Marseille), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord).
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