Algeria’s head coach Brahim Hemdani has announced that goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri will not be included in the national squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo. The announcement was made on November 5, 2026, during a press conference.
Hemdani stated that Zidane’s exclusion was a decision made based on sporting criteria. He emphasized the need for selecting goalkeepers who have regular club appearances, saying, “I need to have three goalkeepers who were getting as much playing time as possible.” The coach has opted to include Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Mastil (Lausanne-Sport), and Abdelatif Ramdane (MC Alger) in the squad.
Luca Zidane, 28, has recently been absent from international duty due to injury and a two-match suspension incurred from a previous match against Nigeria earlier this year. The goalkeeper, son of former France international Zinedine Zidane, changed his international allegiance to Algeria in September 2025.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, who plays for Manchester City, was also omitted from the squad. His exclusion follows a reported disagreement with the coaching staff during a recent match against Zambia. Hemdani noted that there were no ongoing issues regarding Ait-Nouri’s status, reaffirming that players are selected based on specific criteria. He added that future opportunities are still possible for both players.
Algeria is set to face Togo in two qualifiers on November 14 and 17, currently leading Group I with four points from two matches. The group also includes teams from Zambia and Burundi.
