The Algerian national football team, also known as "Les Verts," has begun its training camp at the National Technical Center in Sidi Moussa. This marks the team's first gathering since the World Cup, and it is under the leadership of new coach Ibrahim Hamdani. Hamdani will be assisted by former Algerian international Antar Yahia, who has been appointed as an assistant coach. Nasser Eddine Berrarama will serve as the goalkeeper coach, and Nasser Dainesh will be the team's physical preparer.
All 26 players called up for the upcoming matches have reported to the training camp, with the exception of midfielder Nabil Bentaleb. Bentaleb was excused due to an injury sustained during his club's recent match. He has been replaced by 21-year-old Adil Bourbela, who has been impressive with his French club, Lomon. This training camp is the first step for Hamdani and his team as they prepare for the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Algerian team will face Zambia in the first round of the qualifiers on September 27 at the Hussein Ait Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou. The team will then travel to Bujumbura on September 29 to face Burundi in the second round. In addition to these matches, the team will also play a friendly match against Niger on October 6 at the same stadium.
Hamdani's first task is to assess the current state of the team and make any necessary changes. He has made some changes to the squad compared to the one that participated in the recent World Cup. Some players, such as Houssem Aouar and Ramiz Zerrouki, have not been called up. The team will also be without the experienced duo of Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi, who have both announced their retirement.
The training camp is an opportunity for Hamdani to get to know his players and implement his tactics. The team's performance in the upcoming matches will be closely watched, as fans and critics alike will be eager to see the impact of the new coach. Hamdani's predecessor, Vladimir Petkovic, left the team after the World Cup, and the team has been without a coach since then.
The Algerian team's performance in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the tournament. The team will need to secure good results against Zambia and Burundi to stay in contention. The friendly match against Niger will provide an opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategy and build momentum.
The team's new coach, Ibrahim Hamdani, is eager to make his mark on the team. He will be looking to build on the team's strengths and address its weaknesses. With a mix of experienced and young players, the team has the potential to achieve good results in the upcoming matches.
Key points
- Algeria's national football team starts training under new coach Ibrahim Hamdani ahead of African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
