The Algerian Football Federation has postponed plans to honour Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi, with the two former Algeria internationals now expected to receive their farewell during the national team’s November camp.
Mahrez and Mandi had been expected to attend the September international break as part of a planned tribute recognising their contributions to the Desert Warriors.
However, neither player was available for the current camp, leading the federation to change its plans.
Algeria opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Zambia at the Hussein Ait Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou on Friday.
The Desert Warriors will next face Burundi in Bujumbura on Tuesday in the second round of the qualifiers.
The current camp has involved several changes under new head coach Ibrahim Hamdani, with Mahrez and Mandi among the notable absentees after both announced their retirement from international football.
A private source told WinWin that the planned tribute has been moved to Algeria’s next camp in November, when the team will play the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The two players announced their international retirements after Algeria’s participation in the 2026 World Cup.
Mahrez, the former Manchester City player, had previously indicated that he was considering ending his international career, while Mandi’s decision came as more of a surprise and was attributed to the pressure and criticism he faced during the World Cup.
According to the source, the Algerian Football Federation wants to give both players a public farewell that reflects their contribution to the national team.
The federation also wants to restore the standing of the pair within the national team and provide them with an opportunity to receive recognition from Algeria supporters.
The source said the federation considered it inappropriate for two players who had made such an important contribution to the national team to end their international careers without a farewell in front of the Algerian public.
Their absence from the September camp was linked to their current circumstances and commitments.
Mahrez, who previously played for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, is currently without a club and is undertaking an intensive training programme with a private fitness coach as he works towards returning to competitive football.
Mandi, meanwhile, is now with Spanish club Levante. His commitments with his new team prevented him from joining Algeria during the current international break.
The defender joined Levante late in the summer transfer window and missed part of the club’s pre-season preparations. He has therefore used the international break to work on his physical condition.
The source suggested that both Mahrez and Mandi could join Algeria’s November camp, when the Desert Warriors are scheduled to face Togo in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The expectation is that the tribute could take place during the match played in Algeria, giving both players the chance to receive recognition from the home supporters.
Mahrez remains a particularly popular figure among Algeria fans. His importance to the supporters was evident during Friday’s victory over Zambia, when the crowd chanted his name during the seventh minute.
The gesture was a reference to the number seven shirt worn by the former Leicester City player for many years with the national team.
The federation’s decision means supporters will have to wait until November for the planned farewell to Mahrez and Mandi, with the pair expected to be honoured for their years of service to Algeria.
