By Martin Graham
Algeria they have officially added a goalkeeper Luca Zidane in his selection for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will begin on December 21 in Morocco. The 27-year-old is a son of old France and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane and currently plays club football with Granada in the Spanish second division.
Although he previously featured for France at youth international level, Zidane later opted to represent Algeria. He made his first appearance for the North African side two months ago during a World Cup qualifier against Uganda.
Goalkeeper options and player ambitions
Zidane is one of three players selected for the goalkeeper department. He joins Oussama Benbot from USM Algiers and the shooter from Caen Anthony Mandrea on the final list.
After his first start for Algeria, Zidane was proud to wear the national colors and expressed his determination to give his all for the team’s supporters.
Group stage challenge and opponents’ selections
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic, formerly in charge of Switzerland, said the team will approach the competition with strong commitment. He explained that advancing beyond the early stage is the immediate goal, while aiming for a deep run in the tournament.
Algeria will open their Group E schedule against Sudan on December 24 before facing Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. The teams that finish first and second in each group advance directly to the round of 16, along with the four strongest third-placed teams.
On the other hand, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw named six players currently active in the Premier League for the competition. His squad includes 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 in Group D alongside Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Benin. Thiaw, who was part of the Senegal side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, described his team as title contenders and emphasized their desire for an assertive style of play.
