Has the FAF given up on the idea of hiring an international coach?

The saga surrounding the bench of the Greens is nearing its conclusion, and the name emerging is not from Europe. According to information reported by several reliable sources, Brahim Hemdani is expected to take the reins of the Algeria national team, assisted by Anthar Yahia.

A meeting between the coach and the president of the FAF was scheduled for last night, or at the latest, this Thursday. The goal of this meeting is to officially propose that he lead the senior national team, with a deliberately limited commitment in time.

If Hemdani gives his preliminary agreement, a second phase of discussions will begin. This will focus on the working conditions and overall management of the national team. Nothing is signed yet, but the trend is clear.

In Dely Brahim, they are already drafting the organizational chart for the next cycle. The question of renewing the squad is a top priority, with a marked interest in young talents from the local league and dual nationals who may join the Greens.

Brahim Hemdani's track record has convinced the federation

According to the media outlet "Winwin," two main arguments have favored his selection. The first lies in his playing career: having played at a very high level, captaining both Marseille and Glasgow Rangers, he also holds the UEFA Pro license, the highest coaching qualification in Europe.

The second argument is more recent. His success at the helm of the U21 team during the Mediterranean tournament has definitively dispelled doubts among the officials, who see it as proof of his real ability to manage a group and achieve victories.

This option for a local coach has been in the air for several weeks, as the name of Anthar Yahia kept coming up after the World Cup elimination. The duo is ultimately associated, in a different order than announced this summer.

ALSO READ: End of the Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026: what ranking for Algeria?

The foreign option abandoned after months of searching

This choice comes after a long and fruitless marathon. More than sixty applications from foreign coaches were received by the federation, narrowed down to about ten profiles. None seemed to fit the technical and financial realities of the national team, according to the same source.

Previous attempts had all failed. In August, discussions with Uruguayan Gustavo Poyet fizzled out without follow-up, as did the option of the three names selected by the National Technical Directorate. A Portuguese coach even tried to free himself from his club, without success.

The federal bureau will validate the choice this Saturday

The federation believes that the workload remains reasonable leading up to the continental deadline: three gatherings in September, October, and November, another in March, and then the CAN 2027. This is seen as an ideal window to entrust the Greens to an Algerian technician still inexperienced at this level.

In the event of an agreement, the official announcement will occur, it should be noted, at the end of the federal bureau meeting scheduled for Saturday. Supporters will then discover the definitive successor to Vladimir Petkovic, whose departure left the bench vacant all summer.

ALSO READ: FAF trial postponed again: Zetchi, Charaf-Eddine, and Zefizef judged on this date