Defender Ashraf Abada and midfielder Adil Aouchiche have spoken of their pride after receiving their first senior call-ups to the Algeria national football team for the March training camp, as head coach Vladimir Petković begins to reshape his squad.
Both players were included in the latest selection for the “Desert Warriors”, marking a significant milestone in their careers ahead of upcoming friendly matches against Guatemala and Uruguay.
The call-ups come as part of a broader effort by Petković to integrate new talent into the national team set-up.
Abada, 26, earns his first senior international opportunity following a series of strong performances for USM Alger, as well as his contributions with Algeria’s reserve side during the Arab Cup Qatar 2025 tournament.
His consistent displays at club level are understood to have played a key role in securing his place in the squad.
Speaking to the official channel of the Algerian Football Federation, Abada expressed his delight at joining the national team environment for the first time.
“Thank God. Now I am with the first national team. I am with the group and with the experienced players. We will continue to work, and we will be united in order to make the Algerian people happy.”
Aouchiche, 23, arrives in the squad after completing a switch in sporting nationality from France to Algeria.
The Schalke 04 midfielder previously represented French youth teams but is now set to begin a new chapter at senior international level with Algeria.
He described his call-up as a long-awaited moment, underlining the personal significance of representing his chosen nation. “It is an honor for me to wear the national team jersey.
I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and thank God things went very well.”
Attention is now turning to Algeria’s preparations for their upcoming fixtures, with the team scheduled to face Guatemala on 27 March before taking on Uruguay on 31 March.
The matches are expected to provide Petković with an opportunity to assess his squad and experiment with new combinations.
Aouchiche indicated that preparations are progressing smoothly within the camp. “We will continue preparing this week for the next two matches. The first training session took place in good conditions.”
He also issued an appeal to supporters ahead of the friendlies, highlighting the importance of fan backing as the team continues to evolve.
“We invite the fans to join us strongly in the two matches against Guatemala and Uruguay. We are all ready to meet the supporters, and I hope they will give us a lot of support during the matches.”
The inclusion of Abada and Aouchiche forms part of a wider intake of new faces.
Petković has also handed first-time call-ups to several other players, including goalkeeper Melvin Mastel of Nyon, Kylian Belazouk of Stade Rennais, striker Nazir Benbouali of Győri, and winger Fares Ghemies of Frosinone.
The expanded squad reflects a period of transition for Algeria, with the coaching staff seeking to build depth and competition across all positions.
For newcomers like Abada and Aouchiche, the March camp represents a crucial opportunity to stake their claim for a regular role in the national team moving forward.
