Football legend Zidane’s son dropped from Algeria squad for AFCON qualifiers
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Thu, 5 Nov 2026, 20:29
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Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.Speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 5, Hemdani said Zidane’s omission was “based on sporting criteria”, explaining that regular club appearances had influenced his selection. Zidane, 28, has recently missed international duty because of injury and a two-match suspension following scuffles during Algeria’s AFCON match against Nigeria in January.The Leganes goalkeeper, a son of former France international Zinedine Zidane, switched his international allegiance in September 2025 to represent Algeria, where his family has roots.
Context & Background
✦“I need to have three goalkeepers who were getting as much playing time as possible,” he said.The coach selected USM Alger’s Oussama Benbot, Melvin Mastil of Swiss club Lausanne-Sport and MC Alger goalkeeper Abdelatif Ramdane.
Key Figures & Named Entities
Thursday:Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.Speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 5, Hemdani said Zidane’s omission was “based on sporting criteria”, explaining that regular club appearances had influenced his selection.2025:Zidane, 28, has recently missed international duty because of injury and a two-match suspension following scuffles during Algeria’s AFCON match against Nigeria in January.The Leganes goalkeeper, a son of former France international Zinedine Zidane, switched his international allegiance in September 2025 to represent Algeria, where his family has roots.
Outlook & Next Steps
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Key Takeaways
Verified Extract
✦Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.Speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 5, Hemdani said Zidane’s omission was “based on sporting criteria”, explaining that regular club appearances had influenced his selection.
✦Zidane, 28, has recently missed international duty because of injury and a two-match suspension following scuffles during Algeria’s AFCON match against Nigeria in January.The Leganes goalkeeper, a son of former France international Zinedine Zidane, switched his international allegiance in September 2025 to represent Algeria, where his family has roots.
✦“I need to have three goalkeepers who were getting as much playing time as possible,” he said.The coach selected USM Alger’s Oussama Benbot, Melvin Mastil of Swiss club Lausanne-Sport and MC Alger goalkeeper Abdelatif Ramdane.
Key Facts:Thursday: Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.Speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 5, Hemdani said Zidane’s omission was “based on sporting criteria”, explaining that regular club appearances had influenced his selection.2025: Zidane, 28, has recently missed international duty because of injury and a two-match suspension following scuffles during Algeria’s AFCON match against Nigeria in January.The Leganes goalkeeper, a son of former France international Zinedine Zidane, switched his international allegiance in September 2025 to represent Algeria, where his family has roots.
Editorial Excerpt
Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
What is the key takeaway from this report?
Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.Speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 5, Hemdani said Zidane’s omission was “based on sporting criteria”, explaining that regular club appearances had influenced his selection.
What additional context is highlighted in this report?
Zidane, 28, has recently missed international duty because of injury and a two-match suspension following scuffles during Algeria’s AFCON match against Nigeria in January.The Leganes goalkeeper, a son of former France international Zinedine Zidane, switched his international allegiance in September 2025 to represent Algeria, where his family has roots.
What timeline or key figures were confirmed?
Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has left goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri out of his 26-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.Speaking to journalists on Thursday, November 5, Hemdani said Zidane’s omission was “based on sporting criteria”, explaining that regular club appearances had influenced his selection.
