Algerian FA in Talks with Portuguese Coach to Replace Petkovic

The Algerian Football Federation has entered an advanced stage in its efforts to determine the identity of the new national team coach, as President Walid Sadi has initiated direct negotiations with a Portuguese coach, amidst significant secrecy regarding his identity.

The Algerian newspaper "Compétition" revealed that Saadi is leading these negotiations after a series of communications the federation has had in recent times with several European coaches, in search of a replacement for Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic.

According to the same source, the Portuguese coach being negotiated with is not his compatriot Paulo Bento, but another coach currently managing one of the clubs.

Current connections impose further secrecy on the negotiations, as he seeks to reach an agreement with his club to mutually terminate his contract, paving the way for a move to coach the Algerian national team.

The Algerian Football Federation's move comes at a critical time, as it must quickly determine the identity of the new coach before September, when the next training camp is scheduled, coinciding with preparations for the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Recently, the Union has entered negotiations with a number of names, including Spaniards Félix Sánchez and Rafael Benítez, as well as Portuguese coaches Paulo Bento and José Peseiro. However, none of these discussions have resulted in a final agreement.

The name of the new Portuguese coach remains unknown for now, pending the outcome of negotiations led by Walid Sadi, and whether they will lead to the announcement of Petkovic's successor in the coming days.