Contract, duration and target: what Algeria’s football federation expects from Brahim Hemdani

Brahim Hemdani’s appointment as coach of Algeria’s senior national team is not a trial arrangement. He is already bound to the Algerian Football Federation by contract, even though its announcement described him as being “in charge of the A team” rather than formally appointed.

The wording reflects an internal promotion. Hemdani had been contracted to the under-20 national team, and that existing agreement now provides the legal basis for his new role. According to Winwin, he accepted the assignment without demanding special guarantees or negotiating his salary, after the federation spent months considering foreign coaches.

The former Olympique de Marseille and Glasgow Rangers captain, who holds a UEFA Pro licence, presented himself as a “soldier” ready to serve Algeria’s Fennecs. His assistant, Antar Yahia, reportedly showed the same enthusiasm during a meeting with federation officials. The pair are said to have outlined high ambitions for the new cycle.

Hemdani’s mandate runs through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It covers three training camps and six qualifying matches, as well as a friendly against Niger scheduled for October 6. His first assessment will come quickly, with Algeria due to face Zambia and Burundi in qualifying before the end of the month.

The federation has set a clear minimum target: a semifinal place, according to Winwin. It wants an improvement on Algeria’s performance at the 2025 edition and considers that objective consistent with the talent available to the squad. Hemdani’s appointment was approved Saturday at the Sidi Moussa Technical Centre.

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