Mahrez and Belaili are among the new roster of the Algerian national team – New Algeria

The new expanded list of the Algerian national football team included the names of the players Riyad Mahrez and Youssef Belaili, who were absent from the camp last March.

The Algerian national football team coach, Vladimir Petkovic, has prepared an expanded list of 45 players, in anticipation of next June’s camp, which will include two important matches for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Algerian national football team camp for next June is of great importance to the new national voter, the Bosnian-Swiss. Vladimir PetkovicHe will witness his first official matches at the helm of the “Desert Warriors” team. This was after the first appointment held last March. Which witnessed one win against Bolivia (3-2) and a draw with South Africa (2-2), within the framework of the “Serie FIFA 2024” friendly tournament.

Although the next camp is officially scheduled to start at the beginning of June, it will take place at the end of this month in the presence of some players who are active in the leagues that end next week.

The camp is scheduled to be held at the technical center of Sidi Moussa, in the eastern suburb of Algiers, close to the “Nelson Mandela” stadium in Baraki, which will host the first official match, on June 6, against the Guinea national team, for the third round of the seventh African qualifying group for the FIFA World Cup competition. 2026.

The second match will officially take place on the 10th of next month, against the Ugandan national team, in the capital, Kampala, in the fourth round of the same qualifiers.

In contrast to last March’s camp, which witnessed the presence of 31 players, next June’s camp, only 25 players will participate, who will be chosen by the national voter Petkovic, later, from the expanded list that he prepared, which included 45 players.

And according to Several sourcesthis one Expanded menu It included the names of Riyad Mahrez, the Saudi star of Al-Ahly Jeddah, and Youssef Belaili, the Mouloudia Algeria striker.

Why did Mahrez and Belaili miss the camp last March?

Mahrez had missed the March camp at his request, under the pretext of his lack of physical and mental preparation, after the “setback” of the Algerian national team in “Cannes 2023” with the former national voter, Djamel Belmadi.

As for Youssef Blaili, he was absent for disciplinary reasons, as he was, at that time, punished by the National Professional Football League for his inappropriate behavior in a local championship match, against ES Setif.

Although his level has declined dramatically since he moved to play in the Saudi League at the beginning of the current season, he… numbers Mahrez with Al-Ahly Jeddah Club is considered good, as he scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists.

For his part, Blailey is a… The first star For the Algerian league, in addition to topping the competition’s top scorers with 12 goals, he is also considered the best goal maker. With 12 assists.

We note that Algeria occupies the lead in the seventh African qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, with 6 points, ahead of Botswana, Guinea, Uganda and Mozambique with 3 points each. Somalia is in last place with 0 points.