ALGIERS- The National football team coach Djamel Belmadi has selected 24 players for the two friendly matches against Guinea and Nigeria respectively, on September 23 and 27 at 8:00 p.m., at the Miloud Hadefi stadium in Oran, said, Saturday, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF).
The national coach’s list was marked by the expected return of the striker from Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez, absent in the first two matches of the CAN-2023 qualifiers due to injury.
Besides, and withdrawn from the selection for a year, Andy Delort is making a comeback. The Nice’s player is again on the list of Djamel Belmadi. After a year without having worn the jersey of Algeria, Andy Delort will once again be able to play for his country against Guinea and Nigeria.
The striker had put the selection on hold to focus on his club season. A choice poorly accepted by all Algerians and especially by coach Djamel Belmadi. But Andy Delort, having missed the CAN and wishing to defend his colors again, publicly apologized.
“I hid things from the coach about personal problems that prevented me from going away from home for several days. (…) I should have been clearer with him, more frank. I want to apologize to the Algerian people and I yearn to play again and show them all the love I have for the Algerian selection,” the Gym striker said publicly. A speech that convinced the Algerian coach to call him back.
It is also noted the return of midfielders Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice / France) and Nabil Bentaleb (Angers SCO / French Football League 1) as well as the first call-up of CR Belouizdad midfielder, Houssam Mrezigue, Arab champion 2021 with selection A.
Several pillars of the national team are not on the selection list, such as, the goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi, Djamel Benlamri, Baghdad Bounedjah, Sofiane Bendebka and Sofiane Feghouli.
The last two outings of the “Greens” date back to last June, as part of the qualifying for the CAN-2023 African Cup of Nations, postponed to 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire.
In the first match, Algeria won on June 4 against Uganda (2-0) at the July 5 stadium in Algiers, before winning by the same score four days later in Dar Es-Salam against Tanzania.
The players of national coach Djamel Belmadi will play two friendly matches next November, a few days before the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (November 20 - December 18).
As a reminder, the two matches of the CAN-2024 qualifications, initially scheduled for September 19 and 27, have been rescheduled for March 20 and 28, 2023.
List of 24 players:
Goalkeepers: Zeghba (Damac FC / Saudi Arabia), Mandrea (SM Caen / France), Oukidja (FC Metz / France).
Defenders: Mandi (Villarreal / Spain), Bedrane (Damac FC / Saudi Arabia), Zedadka (LOSC Lille / France), Benayada (WA Casablanca (Morocco), Touba (Basaksehir FK / Turkey), Tougaï (ES Tunis / Tunisia), Bensebaïni (B. Monchengladbach/ Germany), Atal (OGC Nice/France).
Midfielders: Zerrouki (FC Twente / Netherlands), Zorgane (Charleroi / Belgium), Boudaoui (OGC Nice / France), Bennacer (AC Milan / Italy), Bentaleb (Angers SCO / France), Mrezigue (CR Belouizdad / Algeria) .
Forwards: Belaïli (Stade Brestois 29/ France), Brahimi (OGC Nice/ France), Ounas (LOSC Lille/France), Amoura (FC Lugano/ Switzerland), Slimani (Stade Brestois 29/ France), Delors (OGC Nice/France ), Mahrez (Manchester City/England).
