As the June gathering for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers approaches, initial tensions have emerged between Algeria’s coach, Vladimir Petkovic, and Riyad Mahrez regarding the latter’s non-selection.
Is it a lack of communication or the beginning of intense tensions? On June 6th and 10th, Algeria will be back in action. In the context of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the Algerian team made a strong start by consecutively defeating Somalia (3-1) and Mozambique (2-0).
With a three-point lead over Botswana, the team, now under the leadership of Vladimir Petkovic, will seek to build on the results achieved in the fall of 2023 to outperform Guinea and Uganda and solidify its top spot in Group G. On the occasion of his second gathering as the coach of the Fennecs, the Swiss technician appeared before the local press this Thursday morning to announce the list of 25 players selected for these two fixtures.
Amid unexpected absences and big surprises, the former coach of Bordeaux made bold choices. While the successor to Djamel Belmadi decided to recall Yacine Brahimi and Yassine Benzia, both of whom delivered remarkable performances in March (against Bolivia and South Africa respectively), and to place his trust in Chouaïb Keddad, a central defender from CR Belouizdad called up for the first time to the senior team, the 60-year-old coach decided to continue without the services of Youcef Belaïli, Islam Slimani, but especially Riyad Mahrez.
It’s a significant absence considering the importance of the former Manchester City winger, now plying his trade at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, for the Fennecs, given his tally of 31 goals and 40 assists in 94 appearances. Riyad Mahrez fights back!
After completely underperforming in the 2024 AFCON, much like his country’s early exit from the tournament, the Algerian international expressed his intention to put his international career on hold to regain adequate physical form. However, according to Vladimir Petkovic’s justifications in a press conference, the former Leicester player has given him no sign of life since then, hence his non-selection. “The case of Riyad Mahrez is important.
I read the press, and we discussed it in March. Mahrez had asked not to participate at that time. We had agreed that as soon as he was ready, he would contact me. I included Mahrez in the extended list, but having received no call from him, I consider that he is not ready to return,” stated the Swiss, adding that “the doors of the selection are still open to him.”
A statement to which Riyad Mahrez did not hesitate to respond on social media. “I have received no calls from the coach or the Federation. I had a slight knee discomfort, so I opted for rest during the last 2 league matches to be ready for these 2 crucial World Cup 2026 matches.
Good luck to the national team for the upcoming matches, it meant a lot to me to be present. I obviously respect the coach’s decision, but I take note of this choice. Riyad,” reads a post on the player’s official account. Despite a convincing 2023-2024 season in the Saudi Pro League, where he finished as the top assist provider in his debut season, Riyad Mahrez will thus remain sidelined. Will relations with Vladimir Petkovic warm up in the meantime?
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