Brahim Hemdani appointed Algeria head coach after Petkovic exit

Brahim Hemdani has been appointed head coach of the Algeria national football team following the departure of Vladimir Petkovic, state television reported on Saturday.

The 48-year-old, who was born in France and earned two senior caps for Algeria during his playing career, steps into the role with relatively limited coaching experience at the highest level.

Hemdani’s appointment comes shortly after he guided Algeria’s under-21 team to the men’s football gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy.

ALSO READ | No retirement yet for Luka Modric as Croatia captain extends international career

A former midfielder who represented Marseille during his playing career, Hemdani will now take charge of the senior side as Algeria begins a new cycle following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Algerian Football Federation ended Petkovic’s tenure in August despite the Swiss coach having previously extended his contract until 2028.

Petkovic had led Algeria into the knockout stage of the World Cup for only the second time in its history, matching the team’s run in 2014. Its campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the round of 32.

Earlier in the year, Algeria had also suffered a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign, losing 2-0 to Nigeria in the quarterfinals.

(With inputs from AFP).

Published on Sep 05, 2026

Click here to read article