Algeria leave Luca Zidane out of squad for Togo qualifiers
Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani says Luca Zidane was omitted on sporting grounds as the Group I leaders prepare for two Afcon qualifiers against Togo.
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Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane has been left out of the squad for two Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Togo on 14 and 17 November. Coach Brahim Hemdani said on Thursday that the decision was based on sporting criteria.
Zidane, who plays for Leganes, has recently missed time with Algeria because of injury and a two-match suspension following scuffles during an Afcon match against Nigeria in January. Hemdani’s explanation, however, focused on the playing time he wants from the three goalkeepers in his squad.
Hemdani explains goalkeeper choices
“I need to have three goalkeepers who were getting as much playing time as possible,” Hemdani told journalists. He selected USM Alger goalkeeper Oussama Benbot, Melvin Mastil of Swiss club Lausanne-Sport and Abdelatif Ramdane of MC Alger.
Zidane joined Algeria after changing his sporting nationality in September 2025. He is a son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, and his family has roots in Algeria.
His omission was one of two absences that drew attention in Hemdani’s 26-man squad. Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri was also left out ahead of the fixtures against Togo.
Ait-Nouri also absent
Ait-Nouri was sent home in September following a reported dispute with the coaching staff during a match against Zambia. Asked about leaving the left-back out of the squad, Hemdani said there had been “no problem” and pointed to “criteria for inclusion”.
The coach said that no one had been permanently excluded. “However, anything is possible in the future, and no one has been permanently excluded,” he said.
That leaves Algeria heading into the two Togo qualifiers without Zidane or Ait-Nouri, while Hemdani has named three other goalkeepers in the squad. His comments made clear that the current selection was not a permanent decision on either player.
Group I fixtures ahead
Algeria are top of Afcon qualification Group I with four points from two games. The group also includes Zambia and Burundi, with the two matches against Togo next on Algeria’s schedule.
For now, Hemdani’s selected goalkeepers are Benbot, Mastil and Ramdane.
Source: Free Malaysia Today. This article was compiled by the iBET.news newsroom from the source report and other public information.
