After securing their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the Algerian national team is now turning its attention to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. For this final training camp before the competition, Vladimir Petković and the Algerian Football Federation have chosen to prepare in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Fennecs will play two friendly matches there against Zimbabwe ( November 13th) and Saudi Arabia (November 18th), two opponents with very different profiles but ideal to test the strategies of the Bosnian coach before the big continental event.
The preparation has not started under the best circumstances. Ramy Bensebaïni, suffering from lower back pain, was excused from the camp to fully recover, while Farès Chaïbi had to withdraw due to a muscle injury sustained with Eintracht Frankfurt. These absences add to other uncertainties disturbing the stability of the group. Petković, already forced to revise his plans, will have to cope with a reshuffled squad for these last two tests. To make up for these absences, the coach has called up new faces, including dual-national Benkara and Yacine Titraoui, the former Paradou AC midfielder now at Charleroi. This bold decision symbolizes a breath of fresh air within a team seeking balance. This November camp will serve as a true dress rehearsal before the AFCON (CAN), where the Greens will face Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea in succession. Petković wants to see a hungry and disciplined team, able to turn setbacks into collective drive ahead of the continental challenge.
The Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder, who had a solid start to the Bundesliga season, suffers from a thigh muscle injury sustained during the last league game played this Tuesday with his club. According to the FAF statement, exams revealed a lesion requiring several days of rest, making his participation impossible for this camp. This withdrawal comes precisely when coach Vladimir Petković was counting on Chaïbi to bring creativity and allow him to gain playing time with the Greens before the Africa Cup. A tough blow for the technical staff, who lost two usual starters within hours. As a reminder, Ramy Bensebaïni, suffering from a back injury, was also excused from the camp, with agreement from his club Borussia Dortmund and the national team’s medical staff. The FAF has not specified whether Fares Chaïbi will be replaced in the group, but several options are already available to the coach, including several attacking midfielders able to play in his role.
Unfortunately, bad news keeps coming for the national team. This Monday, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) announced the withdrawal of central defender Mohamed Amine Tougai for the next two friendly matches of the Greens against Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.
The Esperance de Tunis player, suffering an injury, was forced to leave the national team camp after a medical evaluation. “After his assessment, it appeared that the player is not fit to play the two matches,” FAF stated in its release. In agreement with coach Vladimir Petković, the decision was made to release the defender to avoid any worsening and allow him to continue his treatment with his club.
A new goalkeeper coach joins the Greens’ staff. One month before AFCON, Algeria welcomes a new assistant in Petković’s staff. Goalkeeper coach Guido Nanni officially joins the Greens. A new era for the Algeria goalkeepers. Guido Nanni is now part of the technical staff of the Algerian team. The Italian goalkeeper coach himself announced the news on Instagram, sharing several stories where he appears wearing the national jersey, and indicating his new link with Algeria in his bio. A clear sign, even if the FAF has not yet commented, that his collaboration with the Greens is well underway. This marks a new milestone for the Algerian team under Vladimir Petković’s leadership. After disappointing performances this summer against Sweden and the draw with Guinea, a major reshuffle of the staff was discussed, with the goalkeeper coach position especially targeted, as the duo Merouane Messai and Nacereddine Berrama were heavily criticised. It is therefore the former Cagliari Serie A player, 57-year-old Guido Nanni, who joins a staff now strongly Italian-speaking, alongside Davide Morandi and Paolo Rongoni, Petković’s second assistant and physical trainer respectively.
The arrival of Guido Nanni, known for his thoroughness and advanced methodology, confirms the coach’s desire to rely on experienced profiles capable of bringing international expertise to the Algerian project. This comes at a key moment in the Greens’ cycle. Indeed, just weeks before the start of preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and less than a year from the World Cup, the presence of such a specialist, who passed through Roma, Lazio, and Al-Nassr, brings valuable expertise to the national team. Recognised for his pedagogy and closeness to players, Nanni is expected to play a crucial role in the development of Algerian goalkeepers, both technically and mentally.
The national team held its first training session in Jeddah this Monday evening, ahead of the friendly match against Zimbabwe scheduled for this Thursday at 17:30 (Algerian time). The session, which began at 9 p.m. on the auxiliary pitch of King Abdullah Stadium, was relatively light. Players who featured for their clubs on Sunday followed a specific recovery programme, while the rest of the group took part in technical ball work. It should be noted that the squad was not yet complete, with some players expected to arrive in Jeddah during the evening. The group is expected to be complete for Tuesday’s session.