Mahrez and Mandi will be there for Hemdani's opening match.

The upcoming gathering of the Greens could present a striking image. According to information reported by the media outlet Winwin, the Algerian Football Federation plans to extend a special invitation to Riyad Mahrez and Aïssa Mandi for the training camp scheduled from September 21 to October 7. The two players, who announced their retirement from the national team shortly after the 2026 World Cup, are expected to be present in Sidi Moussa without being part of the official squad.

This initiative is symbolic. No sporting return is anticipated, only an honorary presence to celebrate a decade spent in the national jersey. The decision is said to have been made in agreement with the new national coach, Brahim Hemdani.

Mahrez and Mandi invited outside the official list

According to the same source, the two invitations are separate from the rest of the team. The former captain of the Greens and the most capped defender in the history of the national team would be welcomed as guests, not as members of the squad. This unusual approach allows them to bypass the obstacle of their international retirement.

The situations of the two players are very different. Mahrez has been without a club since the termination of his contract with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. Mandi, on the other hand, continues his career at Levante, which he joined during the last summer transfer window after leaving Lille. The winger had already been the subject of discussions last May when his late arrival at the World Cup preparation camp sparked controversy on social media.

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The FAF wants to mend poorly orchestrated farewells after the World Cup

The idea stems from the discomfort left by the announcements made over the summer. Mahrez had laid the groundwork with some statements before confirming his departure the day after the elimination in the 2026 World Cup. Mandi's announcement was more surprising, as it seemed linked to the criticism he received during the tournament.

In both cases, the separation took place far from Algiers, through screens. The defender chose to end his thirteen-year tenure with the national team through a video posted on his personal accounts, with 123 caps to his name. The federation now believes that such a journey deserves more than a simple statement.

Hence the desire to organize a welcome and farewell in front of the Algerian public. The two players, who joined the Greens in 2013 and 2014, shared significant moments of the decade, from the Brazilian journey to the continental title in 2019.

Hemdani and Yahia rely on the aura of former leaders

Beyond the tribute, the presence of the duo would also have an internal dimension. The new staff is striving to implement an innovative project and relies on the respect that both former players command in the locker room. Ibrahim Maza and the young recruits of the group grew up watching them play.

Anthar Yahia and Brahim Hemdani share this experience with the national team, an argument that weighed in when the FAF decided not to hire a foreign coach and entrusted the reins to an internally trained profile. Seeing Riyad Mahrez and Aïssa Mandi by their side would send a message of continuity at a time when the team is embarking on an unprecedented cycle.

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