AFCONQ: Algeria’s new-look Fennecs face Zambia in Hemdani’s first test

Brahim Hemdani will take charge of Alg jin88bet.one eria for the first time in a competitive match when the Fennecs begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Zambia on Friday.

The 48-year-old was appointed Algeria co ak168app.baby ach 12 days ago and has already made several changes to the squad he inherited.

His first match will take place at the Hocine-Aït-Ahmed Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.

Hemdani has ak168app.club selected 26 players for the opening international camp, with a number of familiar names missing and several less-used or new options given an opportunity.

The squad is different from the one that will compete at the 2026 World Cup. Houssem Aouar and Ramiz Zerrouki, who were involved with Algeria at the tournament, have not ks168app.site been included.

There are also absences for different reasons. Riyad Mahrez and Aïssa Mandi have retired from international football following the World Cup, while Luca Zidane and Rafik Belghali are unavailable because of suspensions.

Hemdani has ic88 responded by bringing back or selecting players who have had limited involvement with the national team in recent months.

Amin Chiakha, Bachir Belloumi, Ilan Kebbal, Himad Abdelli, Adil Aouchiche, Sohaib Naïr and Ahmed Touba are among the players included in the ne ic88 w-look squad.

The changes point to an attempt to introduce fresh option ic88 s, although Hemdani’s task is not simply about replacing established players.

He has retained a core of experienced footballers, including Ramy Bensebaïni, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Mohamed Amoura and Amine Gouiri.

The challenge for the new coach will be to combine ic88 that experience with the younger players entering the team.

Hemdani wants Algeria to develop an attacking approach while maintaining a strong defensive structure. Establ lr88 ishing that balance will be one of the early tests of his tenure.

The Zambia match provides the first opportunity to assess how quickly those ideas can take shape.

Algeria begin their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign at a lr88 time when both the squad and its leadership are changing.

With a new coach and several alterations to the playing group, the team’s hierarchy could also develop differently over the coming matches.

However, expectations of an immediate transformation have to be measured ag lr88 ainst the fact that this is Hemdani’s first competitive game in charge.

The focus will instead be on early signs of what his Algeria may look like.

The involvement of the newcomers will be closely watched, as will their ability to fit into the established group. lr88

The team’s attacking approach and defensive organisation will also provide clues about the direction Hemdani intends to take.

Perhaps most importantly, the m op88 atch will offer an initial indication of whether Algeria are simply working with a different selection of players or beginning to develop a genuinely different identity.

Hemdani has inherited a team with experienced figures still at its core, si88 but he has also opened the door to a number of players who have not featured prominently in recent months.

That combination will be test 88v ed against Zambia in Tizi-Ouzou.

The match therefore represents more than the beginning of Algeria’s qualification campaign. It is also the first comp SEXXXXX-VN etitive opportunity for Hemdani to demonstrate how his changes can translate from the squad list to the pitch.

For the new coach, the process of building his version of the Fennecs starts on Friday.

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Mubarak Haruna
Mubarak Haruna is an emerging force in African football journalism, recognised for his speed, accuracy and ability to break major stories. He specialises in breaking news, match coverage and multimedia storytelling across radio, television and digital platforms.He holds a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and has developed his craft within some of Ghana’s leading media organisations. Mubarak has worked with the Multimedia Group, where he served as a sports radio and television presenter at Joy FM, while also contributing as a writer for Myjoyonline.com.Known for his sharp instincts and ability to deliver timely football stories, Mubarak has gained growing recognition for his impactful reporting and dedication to the profession.He is currently the Deputy Managing Editor of African.Football, where he plays a key role in driving editorial operations, breaking major stories and supporting the platform’s mission to deliver fast, reliable and high-quality African football content to a global audience.

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