Algeria hand debut call-ups to Rebbach and Azzi as Aït-Nouri and Zidane miss out for crucial Togo qualifiers

Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has handed first senior call-ups to Abderrahmane Rebbach and Mohamed Azzi in a refreshed 26-man squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifying double-header against Togo.

The Foxes host Togo at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou on 14 November before travelling to Lomé for the return fixture at the Kégué Stadium on 17 November, with Hemdani combining new faces, returning players and several established internationals.

Rebbach, the Deportivo Alavés winger, has earned his first call-up after establishing himself in La Liga, while CSKA Moscow right-back Azzi has also been promoted to the senior squad after previously representing Algeria at youth level.

There are also recalls for Oussama Benbot, Yacine Titraoui and Farès Ghedjemis.

Benbot returns to the national-team set-up following the 2026 World Cup, while Ghedjemis has been rewarded for his performances with Frosinone.

Titraoui is also back after missing the previous international window through injury.

Hicham Boudaoui is another player returning to the group, giving Hemdani additional options in midfield.

The coach has retained many of Algeria’s key players, including Ramy Bensebaïni, Nabil Bentaleb, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza, Mohamed Amine Amoura, Amine Gouiri and Anis Hadj Moussa.

The squad, however, also contains some notable absences.

Manchester City defender Rayan Aït-Nouri has not been selected after being left out of the starting line-up against Zambia.

His absence leaves Jaouen Hadjam and the experienced Bensebaïni among the main options on the left side of defence.

Goalkeeper Luca Zidane has also been left out.

Hemdani said his goalkeeping selections were based on playing time and current form.

“I needed to have a choice between three goalkeepers who had maximum playing time. All three selected have had maximum playing time since the last international break.”

Ilan Kebbal is also absent, while Samir Chergui is unavailable.

Algeria head into the November fixtures top of Group I with four points after beating Zambia 3-1 and drawing 2-2 away to Burundi.

Togo are only one point behind on three, making the two meetings potentially important in shaping the qualification race.

Algeria squad for Togo

Goalkeepers:
Oussama Benbot (USM Alger)
Melvin Mastil (FC Lausanne-Sport, Switzerland)
Abdelatif Ramdane (MC Alger)

Defenders:
Achraf Abada (USM Alger)
Mohamed Azzi (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Zineddine Belaïd (Al-Taawoun, Saudi Arabia)
Rafik Belghali (Torino, Italy)
Ramy Bensebaïni (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
Jaouen Hadjam (Brighton & Hove Albion, England)
Sohaïb Naïr (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Ahmed Touba (Le Havre, France)

Midfielders:
Himad Abdelli (Olympique Marseille, France)
Nabil Bentaleb (Lille, France)
Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice, France)
Farès Chaïbi (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany)
Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Abderrahmane Rebbach (Deportivo Alavés, Spain)
Yacine Titraoui (RC Lens, France)

Forwards:
Mohamed Amine Amoura (OGC Nice, France)
Monsef Bakrar (Al Ahly, Egypt)
Mohamed Bachir Belloumi (Hull City, England)
Adil Boulbina (Al-Diriyah, Saudi Arabia)
Amin Chiakha (Rosenborg, Norway)
Farès Ghedjemis (Frosinone, Italy)
Amine Gouiri (Olympique Marseille, France)
Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord, Netherlands)