The Algerian Football Federation has appointed Brahim Hemdani as the new head coach of the national team, succeeding Vladimir Petković in a surprise move ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Antar Yahia will serve as assistant coach, having played a key role in recent weeks by contacting players and assembling the preliminary squad, while Moussa Saïb has been appointed general manager.
Algeria Joins the Local Coach Trend
This decision aligns Algeria with Egypt and Morocco in entrusting the national team to local talent; the Egyptian FA extended Hossam Hassan’s contract through 2030, while Mohamed Ouahbi has led the Atlas Lions since March following his success with the youth setup.
The appointment of the 48-year-old UEFA Pro License holder follows his triumph with the Algeria U21 team, leading them to gold at the 2026 Mediterranean Games—securing the nation’s second title in the competition and its first since 1975.
Who is Brahim Hemdani?
As a player, Hemdani featured for Cannes, Strasbourg, Olympique de Marseille, and Rangers. He was part of the Marseille side that reached the 2004 UEFA Cup final and made his senior international debut for Algeria in May 2008.
The new head coach possesses limited senior management experience, having previously coached lower-tier French clubs including Côte Bleue, Courbevoie, and Marignane, before stepping into Algeria’s youth development structure and claiming Mediterranean gold.
Hemdani will make his managerial debut against Zambia on Friday, September 25, at 19:00 GMT at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou, before traveling to face Burundi on September 29 in their second AFCON qualifier.
The federation has not disclosed the duration or financial terms of his contract, leaving the upcoming fixtures against Zambia and Burundi as an immediate test for the local technical staff—the results of which could determine whether Hemdani leads the long-term project or if the board resumes its search for a new coach ahead of subsequent official competitions.
