Youcef Belaïli has not abandoned the idea of returning to the Algeria national team. According to information from the media Al Ain Sports, the 34-year-old winger is aiming for the next international gathering, scheduled in November, after having gradually regained his rhythm with Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
Having returned from a serious ACL injury, the Algerian international has in recent weeks followed a particularly intense physical program with his club. The early signs are encouraging: Belaïli scored three goals in matches against CS Hammam-Lif, Olympique de Zaouia, and Mouloudia de Bou Salem.
Belaïli regains his form with Espérance. This rise in form comes at the best possible moment for the former MC Alger player. With Espérance, Belaïli also remains very close to a CAF Champions League historic record, with 47 decisive contributions in the competition, including 18 goals and 29 assists.
His objective is now clear: to convince Brahim Hemdani to recall him to the Greens. But his return to the national team does not depend solely on his physical condition. Two legal dossiers remain likely to disrupt his schedule.
The Ajaccio case returns before CAS. The first concerns his dispute with AC Ajaccio. FIFA had imposed a 12-month suspension against the player in March. Belaïli then appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which provisionally suspended the execution of the sanction in August, allowing him to resume competition with Espérance.
A new hearing is scheduled on November 10, 2026 in Lausanne. The case concerns a dispute dating back to his Corsican spell and allegations raised by Ajaccio regarding documents related to the costs of terminating his former contract with Al-Ahli. CAS had already granted Belaïli provisional relief in August. A confirmation of the initial sanction could force him to interrupt his season once more.
The MC Alger also maintains its case. The second dispute pits Belaïli against MC Alger. The Algerian champions claim that the player did not respect the agreement concluded with the club before finally pursuing his adventure with Espérance de Tunis.
Belaïli, for his part, defends another version: he argues that the agreement signed with Mouloudia had become void after a 15-day period without activation. The MCA nevertheless continues to defend its position before the competent authorities.
November thus promises to be decisive on several levels. Belaïli must continue his sporting progression to convince Hemdani, while awaiting the evolution of two dossiers likely to have a direct impact on his availability. His return to the Greens remains possible, but it will depend as much on his performances as on decisions taken off the pitch.
