Luca Zidane joins the Algerian national team in preparation for securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup
October 2, 2025162 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The head coach of the Algerian national team, Vladimir Petkovic, announced on Thursday a broad list of 26 players in preparation for the matches against Somalia and Uganda in the ninth and tenth rounds of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which could secure the "Greens" qualification after a 12-year absence.
Among the notable new names on the list is goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, along with three defenders joining for the first time:
- Rafiq Belghali (Vilas Girona – Italy)
- Samir Cherki (Paris FC – France)
- Mehdi Dourval (Bari – Italy)
The list also saw the return of prominent players such as:
- Adam Zarkan (Saint-Gilloise – Belgium)
- Badr Eddine Bouanani (Stuttgart – Germany)
- Amin Chiah (Vejle – Denmark)
- Samir Cherki (Paris FC – France)
- Mehdi Dourval (Bari – Italy)
The list also saw the return of prominent players such as:
- Adam Zarkan (Saint-Gilloise – Belgium)
- Badr Eddine Bouanani (Stuttgart – Germany)
- Amin Chiah (Vejle – Denmark)
Petkovic confirmed that the call-up for Luca Zidane came after careful monitoring of his performance, noting that the goal of including new elements is to expand options and enhance readiness, especially in light of the recurring injuries faced by the team.
The Algerian national team leads Group Seven with 19 points, 4 points ahead of Uganda and Mozambique, and will face Somalia in Oran next week, before concluding the qualifiers with a match against Uganda in Tizi Ouzou on October 14.
