Algerian international defender Rami Ben Seghir is going through a difficult period at Borussia Dortmund, just a few days before the Algerian national team's training camp begins in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, scheduled for December 21.

The situation raises concerns for coach Vladimir Petković, who is relying on the readiness of the team's key players to deliver a strong performance and overcome the disappointments of the previous two tournaments in Cameroon and Ivory Coast.

Ben Seghir's role within the German team has noticeably declined, as he has gone from being an indispensable starter to a substitute in coach Niko Kovač's system.

The Algerian international was absent from Borussia Dortmund's starting lineup for six consecutive matches, the latest being the game against Hoffenheim in the 13th round of the German Bundesliga, remaining on the bench without participating.

In the last six matches the team has played across various competitions, Ben Seghir has come on as a substitute only twice, and each time his playing time did not exceed five minutes, clearly indicating the difficulty of his current situation.

The Algerian defender had previously suffered a lower back injury that sidelined him for a significant period and prevented him from joining the national team camp last November. Although he has fully recovered and regained his physical fitness, reclaiming his position as a starter remains a challenge.

For his part, Niko Kovač confirmed that Ben Seghir's return to the starting lineup is not easy at the moment, given the impressive performances of the duo Nico Schlotterbeck and Daniel Svensson. The coach said after the Hoffenheim match: "There are no problems with Rami, and he is in perfect health," pointing out that the positions the player excels in, whether as a left-back or as a defender in the back three, are currently occupied by players delivering strong performances.

Kovach added that the player was "excellent" until the beginning of November, having started in 13 consecutive matches, while also confirming that the current situation is "very difficult for him."

With two matches remaining for Dortmund before the start of the Algeria training camp on December 15, Ben Seghir hopes to get playing time that will help him regain his rhythm before entering the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place from December 21 to January 18.

Dortmund will face Bodo/Glimt tomorrow in the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group stage, before meeting Freiburg on Sunday in the fourteenth round of the Bundesliga.