Algeria: after 4 months out, a Fennec returns to the pitch!

Africa 21 April 2026 at 03:00

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI

News Editor

Four months after suffering a hamstring injury during the 2025 AFCON clash against Burkina Faso, Samir Chergui made his much-anticipated comeback this Sunday in Ligue 1. Handed a starting spot by Antoine Kombouaré in a five-man defense for Paris FC’s victorious trip to Metz (1-3), the 27-year-old Algerian defender played the full 90 minutes, delivering a rock-solid performance: 4 duels won out of 6, 2 successful tackles, 1 interception, and 3 recoveries.

An ideal return to form for a player who had struggled to earn minutes since his recovery at the start of March. Ilan Kebbal, another Algerian international at the club, also played his part by scoring Paris’s third goal in the 89th minute, after a two-week injury layoff.

Read also: Algeria: bad news about Yacine Titraoui

This individual resurgence comes amid a highly encouraging collective run for Paris FC, now 10th in Ligue 1 with 15 points from the last 21 since Kombouaré’s arrival. For Chergui, clocking up minutes has now become an absolute must: Vladimir Petkovic has demanded that his players be in top club form if they hope to make Algeria’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Related teams and leagues

Algeria

Paris FC

Ligue 1 France