🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Algerian national team goalkeeper Melvin Mastil faces World Cup 2026 doubt after surgery
via Algérie3602 min read
Algerian national team goalkeeper Melvin Mastil is at risk of missing the 2026 World Cup after undergoing surgery for an inguinal hernia. He will be unavailable for several weeks, posing a challenge for national coach Vladimir Petkovic. Mastil, who plays for FC Stade Nyonnais on loan from FC Lausanne, made his debut for the national team in March during a friendly match against Guatemala, which Algeria won 7-0. This injury follows a similar setback for another Algerian goalkeeper, Anthony Mandréa, who is also uncertain for the World Cup due to a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, USM Alger goalkeeper Oussama Benbot is reportedly under pressure to reverse his decision to retire from international football, a decision he made after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite his strong performances in the CAF Confederation Cup, sources close to Benbot indicate he is not planning to return to the national team, though it remains to be seen if an appeal from the Algerian Football Federation could change his mind.
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