Petkovic: Zidane is in the process of integrating with the Algerian national team – New Algeria

Vladimir Petkovic, coach of the Algerian national football team, praised the level of his team’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane, during the “Cannes 2025” finals, which are currently continuing in Morocco until next January 18.

And he presented Luca Zidane performed well during the two matches that the national team won, during the first round of the current African Cup of Nations finals “CAN 2025”, as he brilliantly kept a clean sheet against the Sudanese national team (3-0) and Burkina Faso (1-0), for the fifth group.

The Algerian national team coach, Vladimir Petkovic, said during a press conference, held today, Tuesday, on the eve of the match against Equatorial Guinea, in the third round of the competition: “Zidane contributed well in both victories. In a short time, he began to integrate and gain experience and interest.”

Petkovic pointed out that Zidane is “a player who is in the process of integration and gradually raising his level within the team with the passage of time and matches.”

In a related context, regarding the match against the Equatorial Guinea national team, tomorrow evening, Wednesday, Petkovic said: “I will make some changes. I will certainly not remain with the same starting lineup. Managing the team is extremely important.”

He added Swiss coach“Tomorrow’s match will be a real match. Its goal is to show the players that we need to continue working, and the opponent will also be motivated despite being eliminated from the tournament.”

He continued: I know the Equatorial Guinea national team well. He, in turn, knows us, so it will be necessary not to give him any opportunity to impose his control over the course of the match.”

Petkovic regretted the injury of full-backs Joan Hajam and Samir Sharqi during the recent match with Burkina Faso. He said about them: “It is unfortunate that we suffered two injuries with Sharqi and Hijam. Therefore, the players in question will not be used at the present time, but we will continue to monitor their condition during the coming days.”

It is worth noting that the Algerian national team qualified for the quarter-finals, topping the fifth group. This is thanks to his achieving two victories in two matches.