Summoned once in 2022 with the Fennecs but never given a chance to play, Mohamed Benyettou still harbors hopes of experiencing the thrill of international football by donning the Algerian jersey.
At 34 years old, time is ticking for the Al Wakrah (Qatar) striker, who has scored 16 goals in 22 matches in the Qatari top flight this season. Celebrating a Qatar Cup victory on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Al Rayyan in the final, the imposing forward, standing at 1.86 meters, took the opportunity to send a message after the match to Vladimir Petkovic, the new coach of the Algerian national team.
“I will always consider representing the national team as an honor. My return to the national team depends on coach Vladimir Petkovic, and I hope to be included in his squad (in June, ed),” he stated to Ennahar.
His ambition is justified considering his performances in the Gulf region, although seeing him called up in June for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers (against Guinea and Uganda) is likely improbable given his age (34) and the competition in the attacking department. The window of opportunity may have closed for the former MC Oran player, but one never knows…
He is out of contract.
After the final, the Algerian also discussed his future with his club, Al-Wakra, considering his contract expires at the end of the current season. Speaking to Qatari channel Al-Kass, the thirty-year-old said, “This is my last season with Al-Wakra, as my contract expires at the end of the current season. The final decision lies with the club.” “So far, I have not received any offers from any team, whether Algerian or otherwise.”
The winner of the 2014 CAF Champions League with ES Setif has been playing for this Qatari side since 2019, where he has netted an impressive 66 goals in 130 appearances. Almost everywhere he has been, from MC Oran to ES Setif in the Algerian league, to Al-Shabab Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Al-Fujairah SC (UAE), Mohamed Benyettou has proven himself as a prolific goal-scorer. Therefore, it would be somewhat of an anomaly to see a player of his caliber finish his career without any international caps, although, as we’ve explained, it seems unlikely. The ball is now in Petkovic’s court…
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