Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, is set to join the Algerian national team alongside three new defenders, as the squad prepares for two decisive fixtures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Desert Warriors will face Somalia on October 9 in the city of Oran, in the penultimate round of the qualifiers, before taking on Uganda on October 14 at Hussein Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou, near Algiers — a match that could seal Algeria’s qualification for the World Cup.
Currently, Algeria leads Group G with 19 points, four ahead of both Uganda and Mozambique, placing them in a strong position heading into the final two rounds.
During a press conference on Thursday, head coach Vladimir Petković announced a 26-man squad for the upcoming matches, which includes only two goalkeepers from the Algerian league — Oussama Benbot (USM Alger) and Alexis Guendouz (MC Alger) — along with Luca Zidane, who plays for Granada CF in Spain.
Petković also handed first-time call-ups to three new defenders: Rafik Belghali (Villas Girona, Italy), Samir Chergui (Paris FC, France), and Mehdi Dorval (Bari, Italy).
Meanwhile, several familiar names were left out, including Zakaria Bouhalfaya (CS Constantine), Noufel Khacef (CR Belouizdad), Youcef Atal (Al-Sadd, Qatar), and Ahmed Touba (Panathinaikos, Greece).
Returning to the squad are Adam Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Badreddine Bouanani (Stuttgart, Germany), and Amine Chiakha (Vejle, Denmark). However, Ramy Zerrouki (Twente, Netherlands), Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), and Said Benrahma (Neom FC, Saudi Arabia) were not included this time.
Addressing Zidane’s call-up, Petković explained:
“Luca deserves this opportunity. I’ve been following him for quite some time, and I believe he can bring real value to the team. It’s not the right time to talk about who the first-choice goalkeeper is — the focus is on competition and performance.”
He added that the inclusion of Zidane and three new defenders reflects his strategy to broaden the team’s depth based on club performance, noting:
“These players have shown great progress with their clubs. It’s important for them to experience the national team environment. I’ve always said the door to the national team remains open for those who prove themselves.”
Petković expressed satisfaction with his current goalkeeping options, emphasizing that the addition of new faces is aimed at boosting internal competition and coping with recurring injuries that have affected the squad.
Algeria’s full squad list:
- Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot, Alexis Guendouz, Luca Zidane
- Defenders: Ramy Bensebaini, Johan Hamar, Rafik Belghali, Kevin Guitoun, Aïssa Mandi, Samir Chergui, Mehdi Dorval, Mohamed Amine Tougai
- Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb, Hicham Boudaoui, Adam Zorgane, Ilan Kebbal, Ibrahim Maze
- Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura, Youcef Belaïli, Yacine Benzia, Badreddine Bouanani, Farès Chaïbi, Anis Hadj Moussa, Riyad Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah, Amine Chiakha, Amine Gouiri
With a refreshed lineup that blends experience and emerging talent, Petković’s Algeria aims to secure early qualification for the 2026 World Cup and write a new chapter in the proud legacy of the Desert Warriors.
