Hommam Al Nassim 
Algeria captain and Saudi club Al Ahly Jeddah player Riyad Mahrez has asked for a deadline to determine his future with his country.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic revealed details of a conversation he had with Mahrez, the captain of the Greens, after he was excluded from the squad for the March break.
Petkovic said during a press conference: “I spoke with Mahrez, who asked for a time to think about his future with the Greens,” explaining that “the door of the national team is open to everyone.”
Petkovic announced Algeria’s first squad after taking over the Greens’ coaching mission, which saw the presence of Al Ahly player Ahmed Kandousi on loan to Ceramica Cleopatra.
Petkovic took over from Djamel Belmadi, who left the Greens after failing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Algeria will play two matches during the international break, the first against Bolivia on March 22nd, and the second against South Africa on March 26th.
Algeria prepares for the African qualifiers without Riyad Mahrez for the second time