The men to watch
Rayan Aït-Nouri
Born in Montreuil to an Algerian family, the 25-year-old left back chose Algeria over
France at international level in 2023 — a decision that transformed the Algerian left
flank into one of Africa’s most dangerous attacking corridors.
A £31.8 million summer signing by Manchester City from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aït-Nouri is Petković’s
most dynamic attacking outlet. In the 4-2-3-1, he pushes forward like a winger, his overlapping runs and sharp left foot
a constant threat.
At Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, he recorded 10 tackles, 11 clearances and four interceptions across five matches — proof that behind the attacking sparkle is a serious defender. Against Argentina, he played all 90 minutes and held his own. The matches against Austria and Jordan may be where he fully announces himself at a World Cup.
Ibrahim Maza
Born in Berlin on November 24, 2005, to an Algerian father and Vietnamese mother,
Maza could have represented Germany, Algeria or Vietnam at senior level. He chose Algeria — and Algerian football could not be more grateful.
Having broken through at Hertha Berlin, the attacking midfielder moved to Bayer
Leverkusen in 2025, where his debut season produced five goals and six assists in 43 appearances. His coach Kasper Hjulmand has spoken of him with barely concealed reverence: “He’s a top, top player. He learns super fast. He’s just a great player who has a great future ahead of him.”
Petković has described Maza and fellow youngster Anis Hadj Moussa as “an integral part of the future of Algerian football.”
At 20, with 82 minutes of World Cup football already in his legs from the Argentina game, that future has already begun.
Mohamed Amine Amoura
Every No. 9 in a tournament needs a story, and Mohamed Amine Amoura has one of the best on offer. He grew up in Oudjana, outside Jijel in north-eastern Algeria, the
son of a farmer and one of five children.
Rejected twice by Paradou, Algeria’s elite
academy, reportedly due to his height, he kept going anyway.
The 26-year-old wears No. 18 at every level — a nod to Jijel’s administrative code,
his way of carrying his province on his back. No player scored more in African World Cup qualifying than Amoura’s 10 goals, almost half of Algeria’s total.
Petković calls him “a modern, unpredictable player, capable of turning a match on his own.” At Wolfsburg, manager Ralph Hasänhuttl simply said: “I am better off just leaving him up front to cause chaos.”
If Algeria are to make the knockout rounds, it will almost certainly run
through Amoura.
