Algiers – On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Majid Bougherra, coach of the Algerian national team for local players, confirmed that no players from the first national team will be called up to participate in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, scheduled from December 1 to 18 in Doha.
Speaking at a press conference held at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, Bougherra stated, “No players from our first national team will take part in the Arab Cup. The first-team players will be called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals. It’s up to me to find the right squad to defend our Arab title.” He noted that preparations for the Arab competition will begin in September.
Algeria won the inaugural FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar in 2021 and has been invited by FIFA to defend its title. A statement from the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) on Saturday read: “FAF President Walid Sadi received an invitation from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, inviting the Algerian national team to participate in the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup finals in Qatar from December 1 to 18, 2025.”
The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will take place just days before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026). Bougherra’s decision to exclude first-team players was made in consultation with the technical staff of the Greens, led by Vladimir Petković.
In the first edition of the Arab Cup in Doha in 2021, Algeria clinched the title with a 2-0 victory over Tunisia in extra time, thanks to goals from Amir Sayoud (99th minute) and Yacine Brahimi (120+5th minute).
For context, the FAF appointed former international player Majid Bougherra as head coach of the local players’ national team in December 2024 to prepare a competitive squad aimed at defending the Arab title won in the tournament’s inaugural edition.
