Brahim Hemdani has named two uncapped players in Algeria’s squad for their double-header against Togo in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while Luca Zidane and Rayan Ait-Nouri are among the notable absentees.

Deportivo Alaves winger Abde Rebbach and CSKA Moscow right-back Mohamed Azzi have received their first call-ups. Hemdani also recalled Oussama Benbot, Rafik Ghedjemis and Yacine Titraoui for the matches.

Most of Algeria’s established players have retained their places, including Maza, Gouiri, Hadj-Moussa, Belghali and Bensebaini. However, Hemdani’s decisions in goal and in several attacking positions are likely to attract attention.

Rebbach, 28, was born in Blida and has been rewarded for his consistent performances in La Liga, where the left winger has become an important player for Deportivo Alaves.

Azzi, a former Algeria Under-23 international, has impressed since moving to CSKA Moscow. The Ouargla-born defender will compete with Rafik Belghali and Achref Abada for the right-back position, where there is still no established hierarchy.

Benbot returns to the squad after the 2026 World Cup. The USM Alger goalkeeper was named among the 10 best African goalkeepers at the 2026 CAF Awards and could challenge for the starting role.

Ghedjemis has also earned a recall after making an impact for Frosinone in Serie A. The right winger has scored one goal and provided four assists this season, although he faces competition from Anis Hadj Moussa and Mohamed Bachir Belloumi.

That congestion could lead Hemdani to adjust his attacking set-up. Meanwhile, Titraoui is back after missing the previous international camp through injury. The RC Lens midfielder returned to competitive action in October.

Zidane’s omission was expected. Hemdani explained that he wanted three goalkeepers who had been playing regularly, rather than making the decision for any other reason.

“I needed to have a choice between three goalkeepers who had the maximum amount of playing time. The three selected have had the maximum playing time since the last camp,” he said.

The selection is also without Manchester City defender Ait-Nouri. He remains at odds with the coaching staff following a disagreement during the previous camp and has not offered the apology expected of him. As a result, he has not been included for now.

Ilan Kebbal has also been left out despite being captain of Paris FC. The attacking midfielder faces strong competition for places, as he did under former manager Vladimir Petkovic, while his Paris FC team-mate Samir Chergui is unavailable because of injury.

The Algeria squad against Togo also includes Louis Mukoma Fargues.