Algeria: Mahrez, Belaïli, Belloumi… Petkovic’s choices leaked!

Algeria will soon face the Guinean Syli National (June 6) and Uganda (June 10) as part of the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The list of the 26 selected players will be announced by Vladimir Petkovic no later than May 29, but the suspense has taken a serious hit as several of the coach’s choices have just leaked. According to our colleagues at La Gazette du Fennec, Riyad Mahrez will once again be absent.

This decision would come from the Green coach himself, not from the player, as was the case in March. Petkovic was waiting for a sign from the former Citizen, who was pre-called up, to inform him of his availability. But it didn’t come, and the Sarcelles native will therefore not make his comeback.

With two consecutive missed gatherings, the hypothesis of seeing him retire internationally is gaining ground. Such an outcome would inevitably be a disappointment, especially since Mahrez’s last appearances in the Algerian jersey were during the AFCON when he was hardly in form. The journal also indicates that Islam Slimani, who plays for Malines in Belgium (13 matches, 3 goals in the league) after his Brazilian adventure, will also probably not make his return this June. The two aging legends remain sidelined. Belaili returns, Belloumi is there!

🔴Vladimir Petkovic attendait un signe clair de Riyad Mahrez pour confirmer sa motivation et sa présence au prochain rassemblement.

En mars, Mahrez avait contacté la FAF pour signaler son absence, donc Petkovic estime que c'est au capitaine des Verts de se manifester pour juin.… pic.twitter.com/6ivngFlGI4

— La Gazette du Fennec (@LGDFennec) May 24, 2024

Conversely, Youcef Belaili, the top scorer of the Algerian Ligue 1, will make his comeback. The enfant terrible of Algerian football has excelled this season with MC Alger (12 goals in 19 matches!), and despite several setbacks, the talented 32-year-old player will apparently be there.

Mohamed Bachir Belloumi, the young winger (turning 22 on June 1) from Farense in Portugal, will also be part of the squad. The news was announced this Thursday by his club itself. However, there was significant doubt surrounding the player, who was being tracked by Benfica, as Petkovic called him up in March without playing him, and his comments about him weren’t necessarily optimistic. The son of the legend will finally get a second chance.