Paris, France – French press reports have revealed that the Algerian Football Federation is considering the future of head coach Vladimir Petkovic, following the “Desert Warriors'” elimination from the 2026 World Cup. This comes amid speculation of a change at the helm of the coaching staff in the near future.
According to the French network Foot Mercato, the Algerian national team’s performance at the World Cup, particularly against Switzerland in the round of 32, has sparked discontent within the Algerian Football Federation. As a result, the future of the Swiss coach is now under review.
These developments come despite the Algerian Football Federation having renewed Petkovic’s contract about a month ago. The two parties reached an agreement for the coach to continue for two more years, a move that reflected confidence in his tactical project before the start of the tournament.
The report added that the Algerian Football Federation has placed Mali’s Eric Schiele, the coach of the Nigerian national team, at the top of its list of candidates to succeed Petkovic. This comes after the positive results he has achieved with the “Super Eagles” since taking over.
Schiel is highly regarded within the Algerian Football Federation, having led Nigeria to third place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He also previously made a significant impact with the Malian national team, which he led to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The report praised the Malian coach’s abilities in developing his players and managing stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Furthermore, his attractive attacking style of play made him a preferred choice for Algerian football officials.
The Algerian national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 32, following a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland. This result came in the match played at PCP Place stadium.
