This was confirmed by head coach Brahim Hemdani.

Zidane has missed recent matches due to injury and a two-game suspension.

However, Hemdani noted that the goalkeeper's exclusion was “based on sporting criteria”.

Hemdani told journalists: “I need to have three goalkeepers who were getting as much playing time as possible.”

USM Alger goalkeeper Oussama Benbot has been called up alongside Melvin Mastil of Swiss club Lausanne-Sport and Abdelatif Ramdane of MC Alger.

Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, joined the Fennecs after switching his sporting nationality in September 2025 to represent Algeria, where his family has roots.