# Luca Zidane Excluded from Algeria AFCON Squad Amid Selection Shift

- Link: https://viralbrief.top/luca-zidane-excluded-from-algeria-afcon-squad-amid-selection-shift/
- Published: 2026-11-06T01:22:17+00:00
- Author: Olamide

Algeria’s national football team head coach, Brahim Hemdani, has confirmed that 
goalkeeper Luca Zidane will not be part of the squad for the upcoming Africa Cup
of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixtures against Togo. The decision marks a notable
shift for the player, who only recently committed his international future to the
North African nation.

## The Rationale Behind the Selection

According to reports from the Daily Post Nigeria, Hemdani clarified that the exclusion
of the goalkeeper was strictly **“based on sporting criteria.”** While Zidane has
faced recent challenges—including a two-game suspension and time sidelined due to
injury—the head coach emphasized that the primary motivation for the roster change
was the need for consistency in performance and availability.

Hemdani explained his tactical requirement to the press, stating: _“I need to have
three goalkeepers who were getting as much playing time as possible.”_ This focus
on active match fitness appears to be the deciding factor in the technical staff’s
decision to look elsewhere for the upcoming international window.

## New Faces in the Goalkeeping Ranks

In place of Zidane, the Algerian coaching staff has opted to call up a trio of alternatives
to bolster the squad. The selected goalkeepers include:

 * **Oussama Benbot:** Representing USM Alger.
 * **Melvin Mastil:** Currently playing for the Swiss club Lausanne-Sport.
 * **Abdelatif Ramdane:** Representing MC Alger.

These selections reflect Hemdani’s stated desire to prioritize players who are currently
integrated into their respective club rotations, ensuring that the national team
has reliable options between the posts for the high-stakes AFCON qualifying matches.

## Background on Zidane’s International Status

Luca Zidane, the son of legendary French football icon Zinedine Zidane, has been
a subject of significant interest since his transition to the Algerian national 
team. He officially switched his sporting nationality in September 2025 to represent
Algeria, citing his family’s ancestral roots in the country. His integration into
the Fennecs squad was viewed as a major development for the team’s depth, though
this latest omission highlights the competitive nature of the selection process 
under Hemdani.

## Conclusion

The exclusion of Luca Zidane from the AFCON qualifying squad underscores the emphasis
head coach Brahim Hemdani is placing on current club form and consistent playing
time. As Algeria prepares to face Togo, the technical staff has signaled that no
player’s position is guaranteed, opting instead for a roster of goalkeepers currently
active in their domestic and international club environments. It remains to be seen
how this decision will impact the long-term international trajectory of Zidane as
he works to regain his place in the national setup.

<

p class=”vbna-source-note”>**Source:** [Daily Post Nigeria](https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/05/zidanes-son-dropped-from-algeria-squad-for-afcon-qualifiers/)

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Algeria head coach Brahim Hemdani excluded goalkeeper Luca Zidane from

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