Saudi Al Ahly Jeddah player Riyad Mahrez was surprised to be left out of the Algeria national team list.

Saudi Arabian player Riyad Mahrez, who is preparing to continue his journey in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in Africa, was surprised that the Algerian national team was not included in the list of the Algerian national team.

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic on Thursday announced the list of fighters who will face Guinea in the third round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers on June 6 and Uganda in the fourth round.

However, Mahrez, who has performed well in the Saudi Professional League this season, was absent from the team, much to the dismay of Algerian fans.

National team list for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers match between Guinea and Uganda.#LesVers⭐⭐ | #1 2 3 Long live Algeria🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/uqs8XYPlvu

– Algerian football team (@LesVerts) May 30, 2024

“I spoke to Mahrez last March, and he asked not to include him,” Petkovic said in a press conference.

He added, “Accordingly, if Mahrez meets me, they have reached an agreement that he will join the national team, but it did not happen, so he is out of the competition.”

Mahrez denied.

Meanwhile, Mahrez published the statements of the “Green” coach on the “X” platform through his official account and said, “I have not received any communication from the coach or the Algerian federation since the last time.” season”

He added: “Because I felt pain in my knee, I decided to miss the last two matches in the Saudi league in order to get to the Algerian camp fully prepared.”

He continued: “I wanted to be with the national team, but I definitely respect the coach’s decision, and good luck to Algeria.”

Good luck to the Algerian national team in the upcoming games. It was important for me to be in the national team. I respect the choice of the coach, but I have informed this decision.

I did not receive a call from the coach or the federation. I had some discomfort in my knee, so I chose to rest the last 2 championship matches to work on the 2 most important clashes for the 2026 World Cup.

Good luck to…

– Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) May 30, 2024

Mahrez missed the first national team camp under Petkovic in Algeria last March, saying he was not ready for the new coach.

Mahrez scored 12 goals in 33 matches for Al-Raqi in various domestic competitions.

Other players who played a key role in the success of the Algerian national team, such as Islam Slimani and Youssef Belaili, were also ruled out by Petkovic.

The Serbian coach appears to be banking on a younger generation, but has made controversial choices by excluding Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Fares Chaibi.