Bounedjah left on the sidelines
Three goals in four matches this season for Al-Shamal. It still wasn’t enough.
Baghdad Bounedjah would not be in Brahim Hemdani’s first squad, according to Algerian daily Compétition. The new head coach of the Greens will unveil his picks on Thursday before being introduced to the press.
The report gives two reasons. Amine Gouiri’s rise and the expected arrival of Amine Chiakha have tightened the battle up front. And the striker’s repeated run-ins with referees in Qatar would not have gone unnoticed by the staff. Those lapses had already cost him his place for the 2026 World Cup.
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The goalkeeping spot is still up for grabs
Hemdani inherits a mess. In a little over two years, Vladimir Petkovic never really settled the issue between the posts.
Luca Zidane is said to be out for this camp, according to La Gazette du Fennec. Leganes has made no statement on the matter. Ossama Benbot, meanwhile, is said to be out of the picture long term, and “not only for reasons linked to sporting considerations,” the outlet writes. Abdelatif Ramdane, Melvin Mastil and Kilian Belazzoug could benefit.
Behind them, the familiar faces should be there. Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Jaouen Hadjam, Zineddine Belaid and Samir Chergui are all expected. Ait-Nouri has played just one match this season for Manchester City, which is worrying local media.
Kebbal and Abdelli back in?
In midfield, Compétition says Hemdani would leave out Houssem Aouar and Ramiz Zerrouki from the start. La Gazette du Fennec offers a different take on the former Lyon man, who could still make the cut after all. Nabil Bentaleb is said to be out.
Ilan Kebbal, left out by the previous staff, is set to return. Himad Abdelli too. Hicham Boudaoui, Fares Chaibi, Adem Zorgane, Adil Aouchiche and Yassine Titraoui are also mentioned by both outlets.
Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi, though, will not be back. The two senior players ended their international careers after the 2026 World Cup. The camp runs from September 21 to October 6, with Zambia at home on the 25th and Burundi on the 29th in Group I of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Hemdani will know where he stands on Thursday. So will his players.
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