Yakoub Gassi is one of the most promising young players in Algerian Ligue 1, but the 20-year-old must now turn early recognition into regular first-team football.
The MC Alger right-back is ranked sixth in the #TalentsAlgeriens series, which follows 25 young players expected to attract attention this season. The list is necessarily subjective, taking into account not only natural ability but also potential, their expected role at club level and what the 2026/27 campaign could mean for their development.
Born in Bouira on 6 March 2006, Gassi has already moved through several important stages of his career. He has joined the MC Alger senior squad, played in the Algerian Cup, appeared in the African Champions League and represented Algeria at youth level.
MC Alger have also extended his contract until 2031, underlining the confidence the club has in his future.
‘The best right-back of his generation’
Mohamed Mekhazni has known Gassi for several years. The current technical director of Olympique Akbou was previously involved in bringing the defender to MC Alger and believes the player has exceptional potential.
Sofiane Benkhelifa, a coach and youth developer who has worked with USMA, Olympique Akbou and ES Setif, also sees a player who has progressed quickly and is comfortable operating beyond the youth game.
Gassi has not appeared overawed when tested in more demanding surroundings. During his appearances in the Algerian Cup and the African Champions League under Rulani Mokwena, he continued to play with the same willingness to move forward, take on opponents and make decisions for himself.
Benkhelifa describes him as “quick, a good dribbler, and as good offensively as he is defensively”.
The defender is already capable of contributing in both directions, although Benkhelifa believes there remains an area of his game that needs further work.
Contract secured, playing time next
Abdelkader Bouchaala, a youth coach who has worked with CRB and USMA and is now at MC Alger, is similarly convinced by Gassi’s qualities.
He highlights the youngster’s pace, explosiveness, ability to combine through one-twos and skill in protecting the ball under pressure. But those attributes also raise the expectations around his next step.
For Bouchaala, Gassi’s progress now needs to be matched by regular football. Benkhelifa considers him ready to be part of MC Alger’s rotation, while Bouchaala would have preferred him to play a sequence of matches elsewhere.
Their views converge on one point: remaining on the substitutes’ bench will not help a player who has already advanced so quickly.
The change in coaching staff adds another variable. Mokwena gave Gassi his first significant opportunities, but Khaled Ben Yahia must now decide how prominently the right-back features in his plans.
MC Alger have protected Gassi’s future contractually with a deal running until 2031. The next question is whether they will provide the minutes a 20-year-old full-back, already considered ready by those who have worked with him, needs to continue developing.