The gesture of a retired Algerian national team player managed by Vladimir Petković has sparked discussions on social media.
Algerian goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja, currently in the spotlight at FC Metz in France, has drawn interest by expressing his desire to return to the Algerian national team under coach Vladimir Petković. This declaration comes at a critical time for the national team, which has faced recurring difficulties in the goalkeeper position, a concern shared by both Petković and Algerian supporters.
In the last four matches under Vladimir Petković’s tenure, the Algerian national team has conceded a total of nine goals. Two of these goals occurred in a friendly match against Bolivia (a 3-2 defeat), where starting goalkeeper Anthony Mandanda was in goal, and three more in a friendly against South Africa (a 3-3 draw) with Mustapha Zeghba in goal. Anthony Mandanda then conceded three goals in World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Guinea and Uganda, with two goals against Guinea and one against Uganda.
Veteran goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja announced his international retirement in June 2023, during a national team camp under former coach Djamel Belmadi. This decision was motivated by a lack of opportunities under Belmadi, while Raïs M’Bolhi had firmly held the starting goalkeeper position for over thirteen years.
Reaffirming his commitment to the national team, Alexandre Oukidja recently conveyed a message to Petković expressing his desire to return. Videos circulating on social media show the nearly 36-year-old goalkeeper in conversation with a supporter of the Algerian national team, stating he would be ready to make a comeback if Petković called him.
Since joining the Algerian national team in September 2018, Oukidja has only participated in six international matches. Although he was part of the Algerian team that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, he remained on the bench throughout the tournament, a situation repeated in the following edition in Cameroon.
Oukidja dropped a major hint by recently adding “Algerian international player” to his Instagram profile, a move interpreted as a clear indication of his intention to rejoin the Algerian national team.
However, Vladimir Petković prefers a long-term solution regarding Oukidja. It remains uncertain whether Oukidja’s Instagram gesture was spontaneous or if he has received signals from the Algerian Football Federation regarding a possible return to the national team ranks, particularly necessary at a time when “Les Fennecs” seek an experienced solution to their goalkeeping issues, benefiting from his experience with RC Strasbourg in France.
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