Algeria hit with multiple injury ahead Nigeria clash

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The Greens’ manager has invited a trio of less experienced players to fill the void left by injured stars Soudani, Ghezzal and Boudebouz

Algeria head coach Georges Leekens has called on Baghdad Bounedjah, YassineBenzia and Ismaël Bennacer to replace three injured players from their initial 23-man list ahead of Saturday’s 2018 World Cup Qualifying game against Nigeria. According to a statement released on the Algeria Football Federation website, France based stars Rachid Ghezzal (Lyon) and Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier) plus Afcon 2017 Qualifying top scorer Hilal El Arabi Soudani were excused from the squad as a result of injury problems sustained while on club duties.

With star strikers Soudani and Ghezzal out, the Belgian has now turned to Bounedjah (Étoile du Sahel on loan from Al Sadd) and Lille’s Benzia while Arsenal’s Bennacer replaces midfielder Boudebouz in the squad to face Gernot Rohr’s men. The trio share a paltry international eight caps among themselves. “Rachid Ghezzal and Ryad Boudebouz were released by the technical staff while Hilal El Arabi Soudani was excused from training of the national team. The three players were injured in their clubs. After the usual checks, the medical staff of the national team who supported them, informed the national coaching staff that Ghezzal Boudebouz and will not be fit to play the match in Nigeria on 12 November in Uyo,” a statement on the FAF website read.

“To complete the group, he [Leekens] has called on Baghdad Bounedjah who took part in training on Monday, Yacine Benzia and Ismael Bennacer.” Leekens will have to make do with a depleted squad in his first game in charge of the Desert Foxes following his appointment last month.

 

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Rais Ouhab M'bolhi (Antalyaspor, Turkey) Malik Asselah (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Chemseddine Rahmani (MO Bejaia, Algeria) 

Defenders: Aissa Mandi (Real Betis, Spain), Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli, Italy), Carl Medjani (Leganes, Spain), Hicham Belkaroui (Esperance, Tunisie) Liassine Cadamuro (Geneva, Switzerland), Jean Mehdi Tahrat (Angers, France-) Houari Ferhani (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Mohamed Khoutir Ziti (ES Setif, Algeria)

Midfielders: Adlène Guedioura (Watford, England) Saphir Taïder (Bologna, Italy), Nabil Bentaleb (Schalke 04, Germany), Mehdi Abeid (Dijon, France), Yassin Brahimi (Porto, Portugal), Sofiane Feghouli (West Ham, England), Ismael Bennacer (Arsenal, England)

Forwards: Islam Slimani (Leicester City, England), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City, England), Baghdad Bounedjah (Étoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Yacine Benzia (Lille, France), Sofiane Hanni (Anderlecht, Belgium)