Numerous rumors have circulated in recent hours about coach Vladimir Petkovic stripping Riyad Mahrez of the captaincy of the Algerian national team less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Mahrez is considered the Desert Warriors’ star player, and he previously announced that this World Cup would be his last with his country. Suddenly, and without warning, news emerged that Petkovic had decided to remove the captaincy from him without revealing the identity of the new captain.
According to a reliable source in Algeria speaking to the WINWIN platform, these reports are completely unfounded, and the idea never even crossed Petkovic’s mind. The source added that Petkovic holds Mahrez in high regard and respect since taking over as coach of the Algerian national team.
The source expressed surprise at the circulating news, given that neither Mahrez nor any other Algerian player has secured their place in the upcoming World Cup. Furthermore, the relationship between the player and his coach is exceptionally strong since their first meeting in Jeddah, which marked Mahrez’s return to the national team after a period of absence.
At the same time, the source confirms that the captaincy issue is settled for coach Petkovic. Mahrez will be the first captain, followed by Aissa Mandi, then Ismaël Bennacer. After this trio will come Baghdad Bounedjah and Ramy Bensebaini.
This will be officially confirmed once Algeria’s World Cup training camp begins in May.
Mahrez is considered the all-time captain of the Algerian national team, having led his country to victory in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He has worn the armband in approximately 62 matches, including the most recent tournament in Morocco.
