National team coach Vladimir Petkovic has revealed the starting eleven for Algeria’s match against Sudan, scheduled for this Wednesday afternoon. The Desert Foxes will face Sudan at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, kicking off at 4:00 PM local time. This encounter marks the first round of Group E in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Petkovic has opted to start with Luca Zidane in goal. The defensive line will feature Rayan Aït-Nouri on the left flank and Rafik Guitane on the right. The central defense pairing will consist of Aïssa Mandi and Ramy Bensebaini.
In midfield, the coach is relying on the experience of Ismaël Bennacer, who recently returned to the national team during the last preparatory camp. He will be joined by Hicham Boudaoui. A surprising inclusion in the lineup is Fares Chaïbi, who starts instead of the widely anticipated Ibrahim Mahza.
Leading the attack is captain Riyad Mahrez, alongside Mohamed Amine Amoura, the top scorer in the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, and Baghdad Bounedjah as the central striker.
DZWatch understands that Haimad Abdelli is absent from the squad due to technical reasons following his late arrival. Houssem Aouar is also unavailable due to injury, while defender Samir Chergui joined the camp carrying an injury and is therefore not included in the matchday squad.
This match is crucial for Algeria as they begin their quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. DZWatch will provide live updates and in-depth analysis throughout the game.
