Former Algeria international Faouzi Ghoulam has declared that the days of players treating African and Arab national teams as a backup option are over, insisting that Algeria now possesses enough talent and ambition to move forward without waiting for undecided footballers.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with WinWin, the former defender reflected on several key moments from his international career, including his absence from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, allegations surrounding his availability for Algeria in 2017, and his outlook for the national team’s future ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The interview came after Ghoulam met students at the University of Calabria in Italy, where he spoke about leadership and sports management.
‘This Matter Is Completely Over’
One of the central topics discussed was the growing debate around players born in Europe who delay choosing between representing their country of birth and the nation of their family origins.
Asked about the issue and the case of Yacine Adli, Ghoulam dismissed the notion that Algeria or other African nations should wait for players whose hopes of representing European countries have faded.
He said: “This matter is completely over. African and Arab national teams are now just as competitive and strong as European national teams and have a lot to offer, so this issue is no longer up for discussion.”
The former Napoli defender argued that modern football has changed significantly, with African and Arab national teams becoming increasingly competitive on the international stage.
Expanding on the point, he added: “The players now choose with their hearts; whoever wants to play for France, let him, and whoever chooses Algeria, that’s fine, and everyone’s decision must be respected. The idea of a player waiting until the last minute to choose the national team is over; Algeria currently has so many talents that it doesn’t wait for anyone. If you want to represent Algeria, you have to come immediately, otherwise there’s no place for you, that’s how things work.”
Responding to Cameroon Controversy
Ghoulam also addressed past accusations that he deliberately avoided playing for Algeria during a difficult period that included a match against Cameroon in 2017.
Rejecting those claims, he described the circumstances facing both himself and the national team at the time.
He said: “No, it was a complicated period for the national team. We were winning very few matches and we suffered defeats. We didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Yes, it was a tough time. And then I suffered injuries, which made things even more complicated.”
The defender explained that recurring injuries severely affected his ability to return to full fitness and limited his availability for international duty.
He continued: “It is true that I was not ready to play after that because I had great difficulty returning from my injuries. But that period was also difficult for the national team. Thank God, thanks to God, we have now succeeded in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. It is true that a long time has passed since the last participation, and apart from the African Cup of Nations which we won in 2019, Algeria did not participate in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. That was a failure for us, but today we have started again with a new generation that has begun to arrive, and God willing, the future will be good.”
Revealing the Truth About AFCON 2019
Another long-standing topic revisited during the interview was the suggestion that former Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi personally travelled to persuade Ghoulam to join the squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, only for the player to decline.
Ghoulam firmly denied that his absence was a refusal to represent his country.
He said: “No, no, no, this is my country and I am happy that we won the Africa Cup of Nations. But at that time I was not ready, that is the truth.”
According to the former defender, he made his physical condition clear to Belmadi before the tournament.
He added: “When the coach came to me, I told him that beforehand. I told him: Listen, I am not ready. Because gradually returning to participate in the Italian league is completely different from participating in a tournament like the Africa Cup of Nations, especially since the tournament was supposed to be held in Cameroon first before it was moved to Egypt. It is true that the conditions in Egypt were slightly better, but for the African conditions, my body was not ready, and therefore I was unable to participate in this tournament.”
Country Comes Before the Individual
Looking back, Ghoulam said he had no regrets about the decision, particularly as Algeria went on to lift the continental title in Egypt.
He concluded: “I made this very clear to the coach, and then thank God they won. In the end, this did not cause any problem, the national team won, and the most important thing is that the country’s interest is greater than any player. Thank God we won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and I was very happy and present as the team’s number one fan”
His remarks offer a candid reflection on both the challenges and successes of recent years, while underlining a message he believes now defines Algerian football: the national team’s ambitions are greater than any individual, and those who wish to represent the country must be fully committed from the outset.
