Amine Gouiri scored twice for Olympique Marseille, and while his goals couldn't save his team from defeat, they did catch the eye of Algeria's new national team coach, Ibrahim Hamdani. Watching from the stands, Hamdani began shaping his shortlist for the upcoming international window as the match unfolded.
The decision to appoint Ibrahim Hamdani as Algeria's head coach was made at the Federal Bureau meeting of the Algerian Football Federation in Sidi Moussa on September 5, 2026, confirming it as an official move rather than speculation.
Gouiri started up front for Marseille and opened the scoring in the eighth minute, taking advantage of a defensive mistake by fellow Algerian Samir Chergui of Paris FC. He added a second in the 53rd minute, bringing his season tally to four goals in three Ligue 1 matches. Marseille still lost 3-2 to Paris FC, exposing defensive problems but doing nothing to hurt Gouiri's reputation. French Football Weekly called Gouiri one of the standout Algerian forwards in Europe at the start of the season.
The match featured four Algerian internationals in the starting line-ups: Gouiri and Himad Abdelli for Marseille, Chergui and Ilan Kebbal for Paris FC. Hamdani's visit was more than a formality-it signaled that national team selection will depend on current performance, not past achievements. APS reports that Hamdani has been tasked with leading Algeria "in the run-up to the nearest deadlines," with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set to begin soon.
Algeria's first match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers is scheduled for September 25, 2026, at 19:00 against Zambia, followed by an away game versus Burundi on September 29. This leaves Hamdani and his staff with a very short window between their appointment and the start of official competition, highlighting the urgency of their preparations.
Hamdani's scouting trip will continue beyond France, with visits planned to England, Germany, and Italy to watch Algerian professionals ahead of the September international break. He is expected to name a 26-man squad for the qualifiers against Zambia and Burundi, plus a friendly against Niger in October. TSA Algérie confirms that the Algerian Football Federation has completed its new technical staff, with Moussa Saib appointed as general manager alongside Hamdani and Yahia.
Gouiri's strong start to the season puts him in a good position for a recall, but Hamdani's early approach is clear: players must earn their place through performance, not reputation. For those on the fringes, the new regime is both a chance and a warning-only form on the pitch will count for selection under Hamdani.
