Sidi Moussa Hosts National Football Team’s Training Camp

The Algerian national football team, known as the "Greens," officially began its training camp today, Monday, at the National Technical Center in Sidi Moussa, Algiers. This camp marks the team's initial preparations for the first and second rounds of Group 9 qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The squad is now under the guidance of new coach Ibrahim Hamdani.

This training session is the first for the new national technical staff. Coach Hamdani is joined by former Algerian international Antar Yahia as assistant coach, Nacer Eddine Berarma as goalkeeping coach, and Nacer Dainche as fitness coach. The 26 summoned players gradually joined the "Greens'" headquarters since Monday morning. Nabil Bentaleb was excused due to an injury, leading to the first-time call-up of 21-year-old midfielder Adel Bourabaa from French club Le Mans FC as his replacement.

This camp represents a significant step in a new era for the national team, following the recent termination of former national coach Vladimir Petkovic's contract. Coach Hamdani's initial squad selection introduced several changes compared to the group that participated in the last World Cup, with some players like Housssem Aouar and Ramez Zerrouki not being called up. The international retirements of experienced players, including captain Riyad Mahrez and defender Aïssa Mandi, further pave the way for squad evolution and new talent.

The team's first competitive test will be an upcoming home match against Zambia on Friday in Tizi Ouzou, marking the opening round of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Following this, the national team will travel to Bujumbura for an away fixture against Burundi on Tuesday, September 29, for the second round. The training schedule also includes a friendly match against Niger on October 6 in Tizi Ouzou, providing the technical staff an opportunity for further player evaluation.