Zidane in a bind ahead of November camp

Algerian international goalkeeper Luca Zidane continues to struggle with his club CD Leganés after conceding three more goals against Almería on Monday evening, in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification round nine of the Spanish second division. The pressure is mounting on him just weeks before the Algerian national team's camp scheduled for next November.

Recent statistics show a clear decline in the goalkeeper's performance, having conceded four goals against Cádiz, two against Castellón, and two against Granada, before receiving three goals from Almería, bringing his tally to 11 goals in the last four matches of the competition.

These results put Zidane in front of a significant challenge to regain confidence and stability, especially with the approaching date of his potential return to the Algeria national team, amid the ongoing competition for the goalkeeper position.

The goalkeeper missed the training camps in September and October due to suspension, a period that the coaching staff led by Ibrahim Hamdani used to test other options and give opportunities to several goalkeepers in order to assess their capabilities and enhance competition for the starting position.

Mastil started against Zambia and Burundi in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification for 2027, while Ramadan got a chance to feature in the friendly against Niger. However, the performances of the two goalkeepers, according to the available data, did not give either of them a clear advantage in the race for the starting position for the 'Desert Warriors'.

Despite the difficulties Zinedine Zidane faces with CD Leganés, his rivals' failure to capitalize on his absence could open the door for his return to the Algeria national team starting lineup during the upcoming camp.

Zinedine Zidane could have the opportunity to regain his place in the national team during two matches against Togo, as part of the third and fourth rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification. This could represent an important chance for Zidane to make his debut in the African jungles, should he earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Amid a decline in his results with CD Leganés and ongoing competition for the goalkeeper position in the national team, Luca Zidane enters the coming weeks under increasing pressure, seeking to correct his path and prove his ability to return strongly to the calculations of the 'Greens'.