Algeria national team: Four key players set to return in November!

Algeria: Four mainstays ready to make their comeback for the Greens!

Africa 23 October 2025 at 06:42

With just weeks remaining before the final training camp ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Vladimir Petkovic is preparing to bring back some heavyweights. The Algeria national team coach wants to rely on the core players who have shaped recent years to ensure the best possible preparation for the AFCON. According to several sources, four major comebacks are expected: Youcef Atal, Houssem Aouar, Ismaël Bennacer, and Rayan Aït Nouri.

The return of key players ahead of AFCON 2025

Absent from the previous camp for various reasons, these four internationals are set to rejoin the squad for November’s gathering. Aït Nouri, Aouar, and Atal were sidelined due to injury, while Bennacer was left out because he lacked match fitness. The midfielder had missed summer preparations with AC Milan before joining Dynamo Zagreb, prompting Petkovic to favor other, sharper options at the time.

For this final window before the AFCON, the Swiss coach wants to lean on his best available assets to fine-tune his definitive choices. Algeria will play two friendly matches during the November break—a perfect opportunity for these experienced players to regain their rhythm and fight for a spot on the final list. Petkovic is determined to field a strong, balanced, and competitive squad, and the return of these four pillars couldn’t come at a better time.