Highly anticipated, the list of Algeria for the double confrontation against Niger in the CAN 2023 qualifiers was published this Friday by the coach of the Fennecs, Djamel Belmadi.
Many names of binational likely to strengthen the selection have circulated in recent days and they are finally 5 players born in France to be called up for the first time! They are full-backs Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton), Jaouen Hadjam (Nantes) and Kevin Van Den Kerkhof Guitoun (Bastia), attacking midfielder Farès Chaïbi (Toulouse) and winger Badredine Bouanani (Nice). These dual nationals are accompanied by the local central defender, Zineddine Belaid (23), revealed on the occasion of CHAN 2022 and called for the first time in A.
On the other hand, as expected, the now ex-French international Houssem Aouar, who has officially said yes to the Fennecs Thursday, will have to wait before celebrating his first summons, Belmadi not having called on him. A logical choice given the low playing time of the midfielder, who has just returned from injury at Olympique Lyonnais. The coach will say more about this at his press conference scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m.
Belaïli is there, not M’Bolhi
While rumors announced that he was going to be punished for his behavior and dismissed, Youcef Belaïli is present, just like Aïssa Mandi, also announced on the hot seat. The big victim, on the other hand, is goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi, who, at 36, no longer seems to fit into Belmadi’s plans. No place either Youcef Atal, back in the infirmary, nor Saïd Benrahma. For the rest, the headliners Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, who is redoing the icing in Anderlecht, or even Ismaël Bennacer will be there.
At the top of their eliminatory group after their victories against Uganda (2-0) and Tanzania (2-0), Algeria receives Niger on March 23 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers before moving to Tunis on March 27 for the return.
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