Algeria: Algerian Football Chiefs Name Hemdani to Replace Petkovic As Head Coach

What the report says

Algeria’s football federation has appointed Brahim Hemdani as head coach of the senior national team, replacing Vladimir Petkovic, according to Radio France Internationale as distributed by AllAfrica. The announcement was confirmed by the Algerian Football Federation on Sunday. Hemdani, a former midfielder who played for Marseille and Glasgow Rangers, is 48 and has recently been involved with Algeria’s youth setup.

The federation said former Algeria international defender Antha Yahia will serve as his assistant, with Nacer Daineche named fitness coach and Nasredine Berarma as goalkeeping coach. The FAF said it would back Hemdani and his staff as they take on the role. Petkovic’s tenure included a run to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the 2026 World Cup, where Algeria were eliminated in the round of 32 by Switzerland.

Hemdani’s coaching background includes work in lower divisions in France, as well as a spell leading Marignane to promotion. He was appointed Algeria under-20 coach in July and later guided that team to a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy. His first senior match will be against Zambia on 25 September in Tizi Ouzou in the opening round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

More broadly, the change comes as several African national teams prepare for qualification matches for the 2027 tournament, which will be staged in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.