Rayan Aït-Nouri, the Manchester City player, has still not offered the apology demanded after his stormy departure from the Fennecs’ camp in September. According to Afrik-Foot, head coach Brahim Hemdani is holding firm, and the player’s chances of making the November squad are considered virtually nil.
The Rayan Aït-Nouri saga is far from over. The 25-year-old Manchester City player has so far made neither a public nor a private apology after his stormy departure from the September 2026 camp. That failure to act weighs heavily as the next gathering approaches.
The direct consequence: his chances of making the next squad are now considered virtually nil. Head coach Brahim Hemdani has chosen to hold firm, in a case that pits the coaching staff and the federation against the player.
An altercation and a demand for an apology
The conflict dates back to a heated verbal altercation between the player and the head coach on the sidelines of the qualifying match against Zambia, which Algeria won 3-1. Following that episode, the staff and the federation demanded a formal apology as a sine qua non for a return to the Fennecs. That demand has, to date, not been met.
A public statement from the player was initially expected after the friendly against Niger, won 2-1 on 6 October 2026. It did not happen, and the matter remains unresolved.
The dressing room, the coach’s priority
Faced with the situation, Brahim Hemdani has made his call: he is holding firm in order to preserve the balance of the dressing room, according to Afrik-Foot. No quote from him is reported at this stage.
The player’s move is therefore still awaited. Until the demanded apology is made, his return to the national team remains conditional on that step.
Togo in the crosshairs
The November camp will feature a crucial double-header against Togo, on 14 and 17 November 2026. The two matches are part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
If the trend described by Afrik-Foot is confirmed, Algeria will go into those two matches without the Manchester City player. The release of the November squad will be the next key moment in the saga.