Algeria consider Antar Yahia and Ibrahim Hamdani partnership after coaching search stalls

Algeria are considering a home-grown coaching partnership involving former international Antar Yahia and Under-20s manager Ibrahim Hamdani after failing to find a suitable successor to Vladimir Petkovic.

The Algerian Football Federation has yet to appoint a new senior men’s manager following a disappointing World Cup campaign, and time is running short before the team begins its Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign.

Algeria will host Zambia before travelling to face Burundi in the opening two qualifying rounds, scheduled for the final days of September. A decision on the next manager is expected at a meeting of the federation’s federal bureau next Saturday.

The uncertainty has followed a wider coaching reshuffle among Africa’s World Cup representatives. According to French newspaper L’Equipe, six of the 10 African teams who took part in the most recent World Cup have changed their managers.

Five countries have already appointed new coaches ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers, leaving Algeria as the only nation yet to settle on its choice.

Foreign candidates fail to convince

Following the end of Petkovic’s underwhelming spell, the federation began searching for a replacement. Many Algeria supporters on social media believed the time had come to appoint Herve Renard, who had previously been close to taking charge after the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

That possibility has not materialised this time, however, and the process was never formally activated.

After consulting a number of foreign coaches, the federation’s National Technical College, chaired by former Algeria manager Rabah Saadane, drew up a shortlist of three candidates. It included Felix Sanchez Bas, his fellow Spaniard Rafael Benitez and Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet.

Sanchez, who previously managed Qatar and Ecuador, held talks with Algeria but also made clear that he was interested in an opportunity in Asia. As a result, the federation’s original preferred plan began to fade.

No local coach initially emerged as a clear favourite. Other names were also considered, including Igor Tudor and Xavi, but L’Equipe reports that none provided a positive response.

The federation has since concluded that the market does not currently contain an ideal candidate to take charge of the national team.

Yahia and Hamdani under consideration

During the delay, Yahia was asked to prepare an expanded squad for the September matches. The former Algeria defender has contacted players and members of their entourages in an effort to reassure them after the frustration caused by the World Cup exit.

That temporary assignment could now develop into a permanent position with greater responsibility. The federation is seriously examining the possibility of a partnership between Yahia and Hamdani.

Hamdani only entered the senior national-team picture last month. He was appointed Algeria Under-20 manager in July and previously led the Under-21 side to victory at the Mediterranean Games, an achievement Algeria had not managed since 1975.

The former Olympique de Marseille player has a relatively modest coaching background, having worked with lower-division French clubs Cote Bleue, Marignane and Courbevoie.

Both men have represented Algeria internationally and are closely connected to the country’s football environment. The proposed arrangement would therefore offer the federation a coaching team with direct knowledge of the national set-up, despite their lack of experience at the highest level of management.

The federation is prepared to take that gamble and could go further with the plan if the circumstances prove favourable. The longer-term objective would be the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 18 July.

The final decision is due to be made next Saturday at the federal bureau meeting.