Algeria national team: Who will be sacrificed by Vladimir Petkovic? | OneFootball

Algeria national team: The big names left out of Petkovic's squad!

Algeria national team: Who will be sacrificed by Vladimir Petkovic?

The Algerian Football Federation has confirmed that Vladimir Petkovic will announce his squad this Thursday, October 2 at 3 p.m., live from Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki. This is a highly anticipated event, given what's at stake: the Fennecs are fighting for a place at the 2026 World Cup against Somalia (October 9 in Oran) and Uganda (October 14 in Tizi-Ouzou).

Who will join Mahrez?

The biggest question mark surrounds the right wing. Riyad Mahrez will, of course, be in the squad barring a last-minute setback, but the debate rages over his backup. Anis Hadj Moussa, now captain of Feyenoord, seems to have pulled ahead. The player is gradually establishing himself in the Netherlands and looks like a logical pick for Petkovic. On the other hand, Badredine Bouanani, recently transferred to Stuttgart, might see his playing time with the national team reduced, despite his progress in Germany.

Meanwhile, some key players will not make the squad. According to sources, Saïd Benrahma and Ramiz Zerrouki will not be called up for this international break, confirming the idea that the coach is shaking things up. Additionally, several returns and new faces are expected. Ismaël Bennacer's name keeps coming up, as do Titraoui and Rafik Belghali. Between three and five surprises could feature in this list, showing that Petkovic is still searching for the right balance. Supporters are demanding clear answers: stability or a quiet revolution, Thursday's press conference will set the tone for the rest of the campaign.