Algeria: "He doesn't cause problems", absence of Bounedjah deplored by a 2014 World Cup Fennec

Baghdad Bounedjah, 34, Algeria's third all-time top scorer with 35 goals in 86 caps, was left out of the 2026 World Cup squad by coach Vladimir Petkovic, who cited the player's anxiety-inducing behavior during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Former international Hilal Soudani (38, 56 caps), a 2014 World Cup round-of-16 participant, expressed sadness and defended Bounedjah, asserting that despite his competitive nature on the pitch, he does not harm the group or create problems in the team.