A few days before the decisive play-off between OGC Nice and AS Saint-Étienne for remaining in Ligue 1, Vladimir Petkovic would have made a decision concerning one of his executives. The Algeria coach wants to recover Hicham Boudaoui from the start of the Fennecs rally for the 2026 World Cup.
According to media information winwinthe Algerian Federation does not intend to make any exceptions despite the importance of the two meetings for the Riviera club. In agreement with Petkovic, the FAF would have requested that the midfielder join the selection from May 25, the official date for making internationals available set by Fifa before the World Cup.
A strong decision which could deprive OGC Nice of its midfielder for the play-offs against ASSE, scheduled for May 26 and 29. The Algerian staff would particularly like to avoid any physical risk for a player regularly affected by muscle problems in recent seasons, while Boudaoui remains considered an essential element of the Fennecs system.
What future for Boudaoui?
This situation occurs in an already particular context for the Algerian international. After an eventful season on the Côte d’Azur, marked in particular by a period of sidelining upon his return from CAN 2025, the player’s future seems more and more to be written far from Nice. One year from the end of his contract, a departure during the next transfer window now seems likely.
The Boudaoui case also contrasts with that of other Nice internationals concerned by the World Cup. According to several sources, certain federations, such as Senegal with Yéhvann Diouf and Antoine Mendy or Ivory Coast with Elye Wahi, would be more conciliatory in order to allow their players to play these crucial matches for the Gym’s maintenance in the elite.
