The Algerian national football team begins its training camp on Monday at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Center (CTN) with a 26-player roster ahead of their upcoming double-header against Togo, scheduled for November 14 and 17 as part of the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the CAN-2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
This second gathering under new head coach Brahim Hemdani features seven squad changes compared to the previous assembly held between September and October, including the return of midfielders Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice) and Yacine Titraoui (RC Lens). Notable additions include maiden call-ups for defender Mohamed Azzi of CSKA Moscow (Russia) and midfielder Abderrahmane Rebbache (Deportivo Alaves / Spain).
Selected squad members began arriving in the capital on Saturday before progressively joining the Sidi Moussa CTN to commence preparations for the upcoming encounters against the “Sparrowhawks.”
However, the group registered a change in the goalkeeper department. MC Alger shot-stopper Abdelatif Ramdane was excused from the camp following the death of his father. To cover his absence, the coaching staff summoned Rayane Yesli (Olympique Akbou).
Benaissa-Yahia: The Last-Minute Call-Up
Withdrawals continue to pile up within the national team setup. Following Bachir Belloumi and goalkeeper Ramdane, Jaouen Hadjam became the latest player forced out of the double confrontation against Togo for the CAN-2027 qualifiers. This fresh absence further complicates matters for Brahim Hemdani, who already faced a major tactical puzzle on the left side of his defense. With Rayan Ait-Nouri sidelined for disciplinary reasons, Hadjam was expected to step in and provide stability in a position where available options are increasingly scarce. Yet, the national team boss must ultimately proceed without his services. The FAF press release published Tuesday early evening confirmed the withdrawal of the defender alongside Belloumi (who was present Tuesday at the CTN), both ruled out through injury. Hemdani was consequently forced to adjust his plans and call upon a player omitted from his initial list. The technical staff selected Fahem Benaissa-Yahia, the defender representing Italian Serie B outfit Mantova. While his name was featured on the manager’s standby list, few anticipated such a swift call-up. Capitalizing on a combination of circumstances and defensive injuries, the 24-year-old arrived Tuesday night at the Sidi Moussa CTN to seize an unexpected opportunity. Hailing from Ouamri in the far west of the Medea province, he could earn his first international caps for the senior team. His career path, which included spells in France and Portugal before settling in Italy, enabled him to develop tactical versatility. During his time with Portuguese club Casa Pia, Benaissa-Yahia operated across three distinct positions: central defender, left-back, and left midfielder. Such multi-positional capability could prove influential in Hemdani’s selection process, particularly when positional choices remain limited.
As a reminder, teammates of Amine Gouiri (Olympique de Marseille) enter this double-header occupying top spot in Group I with four points, earned through a home victory against Zambia (3-1) and an away draw against Burundi (2-2).
Togo sits in second place tied with Zambia on three points each, while Burundi sits at the bottom with a single point.
The opening leg against Togo takes place on Saturday, November 14 at the Hocine Ait-Ahmed Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou (20:00), while the return leg is set for Tuesday, November 17 at the Kegue Stadium in Lome (17:00 Algerian time). Following the conclusion of the qualifying phase, the top two teams in each group will secure qualification for the CAN-2027 final tournament, hosted from June 19 to July 17 across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.