As Riyad Mahrez and Baghdad Bounedjah now wear the same colors in Qatar, another iconic figure from the Algerian national team could soon join them under surprising circumstances.
Shortly after Riyad Mahrez's arrival at Al-Shamal, another prestigious name in Algerian football may soon enter the Qatari club. This is Raïs M’Bolhi, the former iconic goalkeeper of the Fennecs. However, unlike his former national teammate, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champion would not be coming to strengthen the team on the field, but to join the coaching staff.
Indeed, the former international goalkeeper is reportedly set to join Al-Shamal as the goalkeeping coach. This transition would mark a new chapter in the career of the 40-year-old player, who is now focused on life after football. M’Bolhi aims to obtain the necessary qualifications to officially take on this role.
If this move materializes, M’Bolhi would reunite with Riyad Mahrez and Baghdad Bounedjah, two former teammates with whom he shared many moments in the national jersey. His presence would also be an interesting asset for the Qatari club, which could benefit from his vast experience at the highest level and his background in major international competitions.
For the record, Raïs M’Bolhi has 96 caps with Algeria, spanning nearly 14 years, from 2010 to 2024. He notably participated in two World Cups (2010 and 2014) and six editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. A key player in the historic run of the Greens to the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup, he also won the AFCON in 2019 and the Arab Cup in 2021.
DZfoot
