Algeria’s Bold Call: Petkovic Drops Mahrez and Aouar as Arab Cup Prep Shines With Saudi Win
18 November 2025
Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic, who runs the Algeria national team, has settled the question of whether Riyad Mahrez and Houssem Aouar will participate in the Arab Cup.
The decision came after Algeria defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in a friendly in Jeddah, part of Saudi's preparations for the tournament in Qatar next month.
Excluding Aouar and Mahrez
In a post-match assessment, Petkovic said he was pleased with the performance and considered the victory valuable. He noted that the side played well across all facets and that players followed the plan, even with key absences.
The coach added that Africa Cup of Nations is near and he hopes his players deliver their best form, both for the national team and for their clubs, to be ready for the tournament.
Petkovic also stated that FIFA does not block Mahrez and Aouar from Arab Cup participation, but he is responsible for selections and confirms they will feature for Algeria at AFCON and will not be named for the Arab Cup squad.
Humor note: sometimes a coach’s lineup reads like a recipe—great ingredients, just not for the Arab Cup pastry.
Saudi Loss
Saudi Arabia were beaten 2-0 by the visitors in the friendly held Tuesday evening in Jeddah.
Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for the Algerian side in the 75th minute from a penalty, and ten minutes later Rakib Belghali added the second for the Desert Warriors.
The defeat marks Saudi Arabia’s first loss since June, when they were eliminated by Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.
It also marks the Saudis’ first loss to Algeria in 49 years, dating back to a 3-1 Algeria win in April 1976 in Riyadh during the Friendship Cup group stage.
Historically, the fixture has swung between the sides: Algeria claimed a 3-1 win in 1976; Saudi Arabia pulled off a 4-2 victory in 1984; and the 1986 meetings produced two draws.
Algerian Curse
The Saudi coach Hervé Renard has faced Algeria three times before, recording one win and two losses. The pre-match notes point to Renard’s mixed results against the Greens and the evolving dynamics as both teams push toward their targets.
Renard’s encounters with Algeria began in 2009 while in charge of Zambia in World Cup qualifiers, with losses noted in both legs. A later Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal in 2015, with Ivory Coast, remains his sole win against Algeria; since then, the teams have not met frequently.
The Saudis are gearing up for the Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar (December 1-18), while Algeria’s Desert Warriors prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco (December 21 to January 18).
Dawri Writes a New History
Salah Al-Dosri, the Saudi captain, marked a personal milestone by featuring in his 100th international appearance during the friendly against Algeria, which the North Africans won 2-0.
The 34-year-old has appeared in 90 starts and 10 substitute appearances for the Green Falcons, accumulating a total of 8019 minutes. He has 55 full appearances to his name, placing him high on Saudi football’s list of players who have played full matches without substitution. Al-Dosri has 24 goals for the national team, including five penalties; he has missed six penalties in his career.
The match also adds another chapter to the long-standing Saudi-Algerian rivalry as both sides sharpen their squads for their respective continental campaigns.
Punchline (sniper-style): If Petkovic’s lineup is a sniper rifle, the aim is always precise — even when the targets are in the squad sheet and not on the field. Punchline 2: If this coaching thing doesn’t work out, I hear coffee breaks make excellent tactical training sessions — at least the shots are always on target, and the espresso never gets offside.
