Algeria: Benkara did not refuse the selection!

Yesterday, false information spread on social media, claiming that defender Elias Benkara refused the call-up from Brahim Hemdani. This is not true.

The 19-year-old player, who was loaned this summer by Borussia Dortmund to Fürth in Bundesliga 2, received a pre-call-up, being part of the extended list of the Greens, but was ultimately not included in the 26 for the September training camp.

His club, which announced his pre-call-up, published four days ago on Instagram the players who are finally going with their national team and those who are not concerned, indicating in the case of Benkara and Burkinabé Bancé, "Verzicht," which can be read as "renounced."

This was interpreted by some people as a refusal to join their national teams on the part of these players, particularly the Algerian defender's refusal to join the national team, which is absolute nonsense.

Indeed, Elias Benkara was even in Algeria in recent days to spend time with his family. He visited Algiers, Constantine, and Annaba and even trained at Chabou Stadium before returning to Germany.

As a reminder, Benkara was called up in November 2025 with the Greens and was on the bench against Zimbabwe.