Algeria’s 2-2 draw with Burundi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has highlighted the challenge of finding a new leader following the international retirements of Riyad Mahrez and Aïssa Mandi.
The departures of the experienced pair have left more than gaps in Algeria’s starting XI, with the Greens also losing two influential figures who provided experience and authority within the squad.
Ramy Bensebaini has taken on the captaincy, having been the leading candidate to succeed Mahrez. Coach Brahim Hemdani has also backed that transition, but the defender’s first away match as captain exposed some of the difficulties that come with the role.
Bensebaini was involved in the defensive mistakes that allowed Burundi to establish a 2-0 lead within the opening 12 minutes.
The Borussia Dortmund defender was part of the sequence that resulted in Burundi’s first goal before being directly responsible for the second.
Algeria eventually recovered to earn a point in Bujumbura, but the early collapse provided a significant test of the team’s leadership during a period of transition.
The performance does not, by itself, put Bensebaini’s position as captain in doubt. He remains one of Algeria’s most experienced players and has the credibility of being part of the side that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the captaincy brings additional expectations.
Bensebaini is now expected to provide greater stability at the back while helping guide a defence being rebuilt around a changing generation of players.
He must also maintain his availability despite recurring physical problems and manage a temperament that has sometimes resulted in unnecessary bookings.
The challenge for Hemdani is that there is no obvious replacement who has clearly established himself as the team’s next undisputed leader.
Nabil Bentaleb has the experience required to take on greater responsibility and was previously considered a possible challenger for the captaincy.
His physical inconsistency and uneven performances for Algeria, however, have limited that possibility.
Ismaël Bennacer is another potential source of leadership. His technical qualities could make him an important figure for the new Algeria, but he has yet to consistently return to his best level.
There are also younger players who could eventually become central figures in the team.
Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa and Ibrahim Maza are regarded as part of Algeria’s future, but they have not yet developed the stature required to take charge when the team faces difficult moments.
Algeria have previously relied on players such as Moussa Saïb, Yazid Mansouri, Anthar Yahia and Adlène Guedioura to provide different forms of leadership.
Mahrez and Mandi later carried that responsibility, helping to organise, motivate and steady their team-mates when matches became difficult.
That quality was missing during Algeria’s troubled opening against Burundi, when the Greens found themselves two goals down after only 12 minutes.
The comeback eventually prevented a damaging defeat, but it also exposed an important issue for Hemdani as Algeria begin a new cycle.
