Algeria have released Manchester City defender Rayan Aït-Nouri from their national team camp following an incident during their 3-1 victory over Zambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Aït-Nouri, who remained on the substitutes’ bench throughout the match, will return to Manchester City and will not feature in Algeria’s upcoming fixtures against Burundi and Niger.
The decision follows an incident involving the full-back and Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani’s technical staff during the match in which the Greens opened their qualifying campaign with a victory.
Aït-Nouri had been asked to accelerate his warm-up as Algeria considered making changes during the game. However, the situation changed before he was introduced.
After Zambia equalised, Hemdani eventually decided to send on Abdelli, Boulbina and Hadj Moussa instead.
When Algeria moved back in front, the coach again asked Aït-Nouri to prepare to enter the game. It was during this period that tensions escalated between the player and the technical staff.
Videos of the incident have circulated on social media, showing Aït-Nouri expressing his frustration during a heated exchange on the substitutes’ bench.
Former Algeria international Moussa Saïb intervened in an attempt to calm the Manchester City defender, but the situation was not immediately resolved.
The incident attracted attention among Algeria supporters, with some calling for disciplinary action against the player.
The national technical staff subsequently considered Aït-Nouri’s behaviour to be “unacceptable”, leading to the decision to release him from the training camp.
National team coach Brahim Hemdani has therefore opted to send the defender back to his club rather than retain him with the squad for the upcoming fixtures.
Aït-Nouri’s departure means he will miss Algeria’s next two matches, with the Greens due to face Burundi in their next 2027 AFCON qualifying fixture before taking on Niger in a friendly.
The decision comes despite Algeria having started their qualifying campaign positively.
The Greens defeated Zambia 3-1 to collect three points in their opening match, but the result was followed by controversy surrounding events on the substitutes’ bench.
The Algeria Football Federation’s response to the incident has also attracted attention, with questions raised over whether further disciplinary measures could follow.
At the time of the initial reactions, no official sanctions beyond Aït-Nouri’s release from the camp had been announced.
The Manchester City defender will now return to his club following his departure from the national team gathering.
For Algeria, the focus will shift back to their qualifying campaign and their preparations for the trip to Burundi.
Hemdani will have to continue without Aït-Nouri for the upcoming international fixtures as the team attempts to build on its opening victory.
The incident nevertheless adds an unwanted talking point to Algeria’s successful start, with the team’s 3-1 win over Zambia overshadowed by the controversy involving one of their most prominent players.
Aït-Nouri’s future involvement with the national team will now be closely watched following his release from the current camp.
