Has the Algerian FA Abandoned Its Search for a Foreign Coach?

The name emerging from Algeria’s long search for a new coach did not come from Europe. Brahim Hemdani is expected to take charge of the national team, with Anthar Yahia by his side, as the saga over the Greens’ bench approaches its conclusion.

A meeting between Hemdani and FAF president was expected either the previous evening or by Thursday at the latest. The purpose was to formally present him with an offer to lead the senior national team under a deliberately short-term agreement. If he gives his initial approval, the two sides will then discuss working conditions and the overall management of the squad. Nothing has been signed yet, but the direction appears clear.

At Dely Brahim, officials are already working on the structure for the next cycle. Renewing the squad ranks among the priorities, with particular interest in young players from the domestic league and dual nationals who could join the Greens.

According to Winwin, Hemdani’s profile carried two major advantages. He played at the highest level and wore the captain’s armband at Marseille and Rangers. He also holds the UEFA Pro licence, Europe’s highest coaching qualification. His recent victory with the under-23 team at the Mediterranean tournament further eased doubts among federation leaders, who viewed it as evidence that he could manage a group and deliver results.

The idea of appointing a local coach had circulated for weeks. Yahia’s name repeatedly surfaced after Algeria’s World Cup elimination, and the pair will now be associated in an arrangement that reverses the order suggested during the summer. The choice follows an unsuccessful search that attracted more than 60 foreign applications and narrowed them to about 10 profiles. Talks with Uruguay’s Gustavo Poyet ended without progress in August, while earlier options identified by the national technical directorate also failed. A Portuguese coach even tried, unsuccessfully, to leave his club. The federal bureau is due to approve the choice on Saturday. Officials believe the workload before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations remains manageable, with national-team camps scheduled in September, October, November and March.