The coach of the Algerian national team, Vladimir Petkovic, has closed the door on this former member of Djamel Belmadi’s squad.
Islam Slimani, Algeria’s top scorer at the 2014 World Cup, has consistently expressed his desire to participate in one last World Cup in 2026 with the Greens. However, national team coach Vladimir Petkovic appears to have different plans for the team’s future.
Petkovic, the former coach of the Swiss national team, is banking on young talents like Amine Gouiri and Mohamed Amoura to strengthen Algeria’s attack. He believes that these young players, hungry for experience, are better suited to challenge the current hierarchy.
According to Petkovic, aiming for World Cup qualification with a 38-year-old striker, despite his undeniable talent, is unthinkable when younger players playing at competitive levels are available.
Indeed, Slimani, despite his undeniable talent, has struggled to maintain consistency with any single club, as evidenced by his numerous transfers. Currently without a club after a brief stint at Malines, it seems unlikely that he will be on Petkovic’s list for the upcoming fixtures in September.
Petkovic’s choice reflects a desire to rejuvenate the squad and prepare a competitive team for future international challenges, leaving Slimani uncertain about his future with the national team.
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