A public disagreement has erupted between Noureddine Zekri and Al-Shabab FC president Abdul Aziz Al-Malik following controversial remarks surrounding the upcoming Algeria versus Jordan match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The dispute intensified after Zekri, who coaches Saudi side Al-Shabab, stated that Algeria should “stop playing football” if the national team were to lose to Jordan, comments that quickly generated debate across Saudi and Arab football circles.
Al-Malik responded publicly by criticising the Algerian coach, accusing him not only of making inappropriate media statements but also of contributing to divisions within the club’s dressing room.
The disagreement has exposed growing tensions inside Al-Shabab following a difficult season in the Saudi Roshn League.
Zekri, 61, took charge of the Riyadh-based club in February and guided the side away from relegation danger, eventually finishing 13th in the league standings with 35 points.
Despite securing survival, relations between the coach and club administration now appear strained.
Speaking during an appearance on the Saudi television programme “Action with Waleed”, Al-Malik criticised Zekri for publicly discussing the Jordan national team despite having Jordanian midfielder Ali Al-Azaizeh within the squad.
“Zakari appears in a broadcast criticizing the Jordanian national team, and he owns a Jordanian player, Ali Al-Azaizeh,” Al-Malik said.
The Al-Shabab president also accused the coach of undermining local players through repeated media appearances.
“Zakari appears in a live broadcast and belittles the local players in the team, and this is one of the causes of factions and divisions, as attested to by the players.”
Al-Malik insisted the club required leadership focused on professionalism and respect both on and off the pitch.
“Al-Shabab needs a coach who is capable of managing the system not with words or media, but manages it off the field with full respect and appreciation.”
The comments came shortly after Zekri himself launched criticism of the Al-Shabab hierarchy.
The Algerian coach openly questioned the competence of the current administration and suggested the club deserved stronger leadership.
“I believe Al-Shabab needs a president of a higher caliber,” Zekri said.
He added: “The current Al-Shabab administration lacks experience, and this is one of the reasons for the team’s problems.”
Zekri also described what he saw as organisational disorder within the club during the campaign.
“The team secured its place in the Roshan League 4 or 5 rounds before the chaos that was in it,” he said.
The coach compared his experience at Al-Shabab with previous managerial spells at Al-Fayha FC and Damac FC, saying he received stronger backing from those clubs’ administrations.
“In my previous experience with Al-Fayha and Damac, I found support from the administration in contracts and bonuses. In Al-Shabab, I did not find support at all, and I was on the front lines facing all the players’ problems.”
Zekri further revealed that his contract with Al-Shabab is due to expire on 4 June.
“At all clubs, I stipulated a bonus for staying, but I did not set this condition with Al-Shabab,” he said. “I found many problems at Al-Shabab, and the situation within the team was chaotic.”
According to football statistics website Transfermarkt, Zekri managed Al-Shabab in 13 matches, recording four wins, four draws and five defeats.
The public exchange has now cast uncertainty over the future of the Algerian coach at the Saudi club, with tensions between the technical staff and administration increasingly visible in the final stages of the season.
