After Mhiri and Mandi’s Retirement, Who Will Lead Algeria's National Team?
Algeria's national team is set to return to competition during the international break in September/October. But who will take up the captaincy role for their upcoming matches against Zambia and Burundi?
For the first leg of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Algeria hosts Zambia, while they travel to Burundi for the second leg.
Without their two veteran captains, Rami Mhiri and Youssef Mandy, who announced their retirements from international football, Algeria will face these matches with new leadership.
A New Captain Emerges: Ben Saidane
Borussia Dortmund's star player Nabil Ben Saidane is the frontrunner to lead Algeria’s national team during the upcoming fixtures against Zambia and Burundi.
While Ben Saidane may not be the most experienced in the squad, he has been a regular for 'The Desert Warriors' over the past nine years. In contrast, Nabil Ben Talb's international career was interrupted by long absences before making a comeback under former coach Vladimir Petkovic.
What Has Ben Saidane Contributed to Algeria’s Team?
With 85 appearances for his country, Ben Saidane has contributed 12 goals through both scoring and assists. His last goal came against Togo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while he also provided five key passes during the same tournament.
In four World Cup matches, Ben Saidane failed to make any impact either offensively or defensively. He has also participated in 17 African Cup of Nations games, scoring a solitary goal against Côte d'Ivoire in the quarter-finals of the 2019 edition.
