The Algerian Football Federation appointed Brahim Hemdani as the new head coach of the Algeria national football team on Saturday, putting him in immediate charge just weeks before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Hemdani, a French-born former Algeria international, takes over from previous coach Vladimir Petkovic, whose contract was terminated in August.
Algeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup journey ended in the round of 32 with a 2-0 loss to Switzerland on July 3rd, their most recent official result. The team's recent form shows one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five matches, including two consecutive defeats heading into this new era.
Brahim Hemdani is a former Algeria international midfielder who earned two caps for his country in 2008. His playing career featured spells at French club Olympique de Marseille and Scottish giants Rangers. After retiring, he began his coaching career with French amateur clubs. His rise within the Algerian setup has been rapid; he was appointed head coach of the Algeria under-20 team just two months before his surprise promotion to lead the senior side.
The Algerian federation ended Swiss manager Vladimir Petkovic's contract in August, despite an original agreement that ran until 2028. Petkovic had guided Algeria to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, a historic achievement, but a 2-0 quarter-final loss to Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations was a key factor in the decision.
The new coach's most urgent priority is to restore stability and momentum to the team ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers. The campaign kicks off at home against Zambia at the stadium in Tizi-Ouzou on September 25th. Four days later, Algeria will face Burundi in their second qualifier. The stated goal is to build a team capable of competing for the continental title.
Hemdani must work quickly to improve the team's performances, and fans can check the expected squad list on our squad page. The upcoming fixture against Zambia is listed in our fixtures schedule. Restoring belief after a disappointing run of results won't be easy, but the new appointment marks a fresh start.
The Algerian national team faces a real challenge in putting together consecutive victories. The loss to Switzerland in July was followed by a disappointing AFCON exit. This context makes the September qualifiers an early and tough test for Hemdani's coaching philosophy. The recent results highlight a pressing need to improve both offensively and defensively, and detailed team statistics are available on our stats page.
The opening qualifier against Zambia on September 25th in Tizi-Ouzou will be the first real test.
