Luca Zidane included in Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad

By Martin Graham

Algeria have formally added goalkeeper Luca Zidane to their squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to start on December 21 in Morocco. The 27-year-old is the son of former France and Actual Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane and presently performs membership soccer with Granada in Spain’s second division.

Though he beforehand appeared for France at youth worldwide degree, Zidane later selected to signify Algeria. He made his first look for the North African facet two months in the past throughout a World Cup qualifying match towards Uganda.

Goalkeeping choices and participant ambitions

Zidane is one in every of three gamers chosen for the goalkeeping division. He joins USM Alger’s Oussama Benbot and Caen shot-stopper Anthony Mandrea within the ultimate listing.

Following his first outing for Algeria, Zidane expressed pleasure in carrying the nationwide colors and acknowledged his willpower to provide his full effort for supporters of the group.

Group stage problem and rivals’ choices

Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic, previously answerable for Switzerland, stated the squad would method the competitors with sturdy dedication. He defined that progressing past the opening section is the instant goal, whereas additionally aiming for a deep run within the match.

Algeria will open their Group E schedule towards Sudan on December 24 earlier than taking over Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. Groups ending first and second in every group transfer instantly into the spherical of 16, together with the 4 strongest third-placed sides.

Elsewhere, Senegal supervisor Pape Thiaw named six gamers presently lively within the Premier League for the competitors. His choice contains West Ham defender El Hadji Diouf, Everton pair Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Sunderland’s Habib Diarra, and Crystal Palace winger Ismaïla Sarr.

Senegal have been drawn into Group D alongside Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Benin. Thiaw, who featured in Senegal’s squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, described his group as title contenders and emphasised his want for an assertive fashion of play.

Martin Graham is an MFF sports activities author