The Algerian national team begins their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Zambia on September 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time at the Hussein Ait Ahmed stadium in Tizi Ouzou. This match marks the first test for the new national technical staff, led by Ibrahim Hamdani and Antar Yahia, following the departure of Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic. The team is looking to regain stability and rebuild confidence after a series of developments, including their recent participation in the World Cup in the United States.
The match holds significant importance as it is the first appearance for the national team since their last World Cup participation and the subsequent events that led to Petkovic's departure and Hamdani's appointment. The new technical staff will have their first opportunity to present their vision on the field, away from the discussions, controversy, and criticism that surrounded their appointment. Although it's unreasonable to make premature judgments on Hamdani or evaluate his experience based on a single match, the nature of the stage and high expectations make the Zambia match an early test of his ability to handle pressure and achieve a positive start.
Regarding the possible lineup that the national team may start with, indications suggest that Hamdani will rely heavily on experience and elements that were present in the last World Cup. The expected starting lineup may include Mastic in goal, with a defense line consisting of Cherki on the right, Rayan Ait Nouri on the left, and Zinedine Belaid and Ramy Ben Sebaini in the center. In midfield, the team may field a trio of Abdelli, Chaibi, and Maza, while the attack could be led by players like Omoura, Hadj Moussa, and Amin Gouiri.
On paper, the experience, quality, and level of the Algerian team seem to give them a significant advantage over Zambia, with a 60-place difference in the latest FIFA rankings. The last visit of the Zambian team to Algeria ended in a 5-0 win for the Algerian team under coach Djamel Belmadi in November 2019 at the Mustafa Tchaker stadium.
The Algeria-Zambia match will be broadcast live on beIN Sports 4, with commentary by Algerian journalist Hafid Draoui. The match will also be aired on beIN Sports 2 in French, in addition to the TOD application. The national terrestrial channel will also broadcast the match, with commentary by Abdelaziz Ben Salem and analysis by former international player Hakim Medane.
Before this match, the first match of Group Nine will take place, with Togo hosting Burundi at 3:00 PM local time. The Algerian team will look to make a positive start to their qualifying campaign and take a crucial step towards achieving their goals.
The new technical staff, led by Ibrahim Hamdani, will be under pressure to deliver a positive result in this match. The team's performance will be closely watched, and a good start to the qualifying campaign could help to build confidence and momentum for the team.
Key points
- Algeria begins their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Zambia.
- The match marks the first test for the new national technical staff.
- Algeria and Zambia have a significant difference in FIFA rankings.
