Algeria decide the future of head coach after AFCON 2025 defeat

Following Algeria’s defeat at the hands of Nigeria at AFCON 2025, the country’s football federation have decided on the future of the team’s coach.

Djamel Belmadi has officially extended his contract as the head coach of the Algerian national team until 2026. The announcement was made this past Friday by Djahid Zefizef, the president of the Algerian Football Federation, effectively ending months of speculation regarding the coach’s future.

Alongside Belmadi, the federation confirmed that his entire existing coaching staff has also been retained to maintain continuity within the squad.

The extension comes at a pivotal time for the man nicknamed the “Minister of Happiness” by Algerian fans. While Belmadi reached hero status after leading the Fennecs to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2019, he has recently faced intense social media pressure and calls for his dismissal. This backlash followed Algeria’s high-profile failure to qualify for the recent World Cup and their struggles in the African finals.

Despite the external noise, Zefizef emphasized that Belmadi remains fully committed to his role and is ignoring the recent wave of criticism. The federation has established a new roadmap for the team, setting clear performance objectives for the next two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. Belmadi, who is 46 years old, has been in charge of the national team since August 2018 and will now look to rebuild the squad’s dominance over the next three years.