Reports that Ramy Bensebaini had rebelled against the Algeria national team and left the squad following a dispute with coach Ibrahim Hamdani have been denied by sources within the team and the Algerian Football Federation.
The Borussia Dortmund defender is still with the Algeria camp and has been training normally ahead of the team’s upcoming friendly against Niger, according to sources contacted by WinWin.
Speculation about Bensebaini emerged on social media and in some Algerian media outlets, with claims that the defender had been involved in a serious disagreement with Hamdani and had decided to leave the national team while the former Marseille player remained in charge.
However, a private source told WinWin that there was no issue involving Bensebaini and rejected reports of any rebellion by the defender. Sources within the national team and the Algerian Football Federation also confirmed that no dispute involving the player had taken place.
The reports emerged only days after another controversy involving Rayan Ait-Nouri, whose disciplinary incident during Algeria’s match against Zambia was followed by his departure from the national team camp.
That incident had already generated strong and divided reactions among Algerian supporters, and the latest claims about Bensebaini quickly attracted attention because of their apparent similarity.
Sources contacted by WinWin said they were surprised that the Bensebaini story had circulated at this particular time. They argued that the reports created the impression that Algeria were facing a succession of internal disputes during the first camp under the new technical leadership of Hamdani and Antar Yahia.
Algeria have already completed two matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. They began with a 3-1 victory over Zambia at home before drawing 2-2 with Burundi in Bujumbura.
Those results have left the “Greens” top of Group Nine in the qualifiers, while attention has now turned to their preparations for the friendly against Niger.
The Bensebaini reports are the latest controversy to surround the Algeria camp since the 2026 World Cup and its aftermath. The national team faced widespread debate and criticism surrounding its participation in the tournament, followed by calls for Vladimir Petkovic to leave his position.
Petkovic subsequently departed by mutual consent, before the Algerian Football Federation appointed Hamdani as part of an alternative plan after negotiations with other major coaches failed.
The latest episode has therefore added to the speculation surrounding the national team, although sources cited by WinWin have rejected the claims involving Bensebaini and maintained that the defender remains with the squad and is continuing his preparations normally.
