Luca Zidane to Miss Algeria's Upcoming Friendlies Due to Injury

The Algerian national football team has announced that goalkeeper Luca Zidane will not participate in the upcoming friendly matches against Zimbabwe on Thursday and Saudi Arabia next Tuesday, November 18, due to a muscle injury.

According to an official statement from the Algerian Football Federation, the 27-year-old goalkeeper will depart from the national team's training camp following a decision by head coach Vladimir Petkovic to prioritize his health. Zidane recently began his international career with Algeria after switching his sporting nationality, making his debut against Uganda last month.

To fill the gap left by Zidane's absence, Petkovic has called up Zakaria Bahlafaya, the goalkeeper from CR Belouizdad, who joined the squad on Wednesday evening. The Algerian team is currently preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they will kick off their campaign against Sudan on December 24, followed by matches against Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. Notably, the team has also secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.