Algeria coach Ibrahim Hamdani has named Al-Ahly striker Moncef Bekar in his squad for the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Togo, while Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri has been left out.
Hamdani announced his selection ahead of Algeria’s third and fourth-round fixtures in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Desert Warriors preparing for a two-legged meeting with Togo.
Bekar’s inclusion is among the notable features of the squad, with the Al-Ahly forward earning a place in the team as Hamdani looks to assemble a competitive group for the upcoming matches.
The squad also features the return of goalkeeper Oussama Benbot, who has been recalled after previously being absent from the national team setup.
Mohamed Bachir Belloumi has retained his place in the selection following his continued involvement with the squad. The Hull City player remains part of Hamdani’s plans as Algeria prepare for the two encounters.
There are also two first-time call-ups, with CSKA Moscow defender Mohamed Azzi and Deportivo Alaves player Abdelrahim Rabache receiving their maiden invitations to the senior national team.
Their inclusion offers both players an opportunity to make an impression as Algeria continue preparations for the qualifying campaign.
However, the most notable omission is Ait-Nouri, with the Manchester City defender failing to make the latest squad despite his club status.
His absence stands out among the selection decisions made by Hamdani, who is preparing for his latest assignment since taking charge of the Algerian national team.
Algeria will face Togo in the two fixtures scheduled for the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The matches will provide Hamdani with an opportunity to assess his squad while pursuing the points needed in the qualifying competition.
The announcement has also brought attention to the new faces in the squad, particularly Azzi and Rabache, whose first international call-ups represent an important step in their careers.
With Benbot returning, Bekar included and Belloumi retaining his position, Hamdani has combined familiar faces with new selections ahead of the double-header against Togo.
The full Algeria squad selected by Ibrahim Hamdani is as follows:
The individual names in the full squad list were not included in the supplied article.
