• Invites six new legs to camp
By George Aluo
Algeria has continued to perfect strategies for the crucial November 12 Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria with the invitation of six new players to camp.
The Belgian tactician of the Foxes, Georges Leekens who is doing everything possible to start on a good note in Uyo yesterday called up six fresh legs for the encounter.
Leekens who plays his very first match as Algeria’s manager against the Eagles, having been appointed only a fortnight ago had earlier named a squad of 18 foreign based players.
The coach in his latest invitation replaced injured Adam Ounas and included two more foreign pros, as well as four players from the country’s domestic league.
Latest foreign call-ups are Sofiane Hanni from Belgian club Anderlecht, who is a direct replacement for injured Ounas and Jean Mehdi Tahrat, who features for Angers in the French Ligue 1.
The four local league players are two goalkeepers – Malik Asselah (JS Kabylie), Chemseddine Rahmani (MO Bejaia)– as well as defenders Houari Ferhani (JSK) and Mohamed Khoutir Ziti (ES Setif).
The full 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers : Raïs Ouhab M’bolhi (Antalyaspor/Turkey), Malik Asselah (JS Kabylie), Chemseddine Rahmani (MO Béjaïa)
Defenders : Aïssa Mandi (Real Bétis/Spain), Faouzi Ghoulam (SSC Naples/Italy), Carl Medjani (CD Leganès/Spain), Hicham Belkaroui (Espérance de Tunis/Tunisia), Liassine Cadamuro (Servette Genève/Switzerland), Jean Mehdi Tahrat (SCO Angers/France), Houari Ferhani (JS Kabylie), Mohamed Khoutir Ziti (ES Sétif)
Midfielders : Adlène Guedioura (Watford FC/England), Saphir Taïder (Bologna FC/Italy), Nabil Bentaleb (Schalke 04/Germany), Mehdi Abeid (Dijon FCO/France), Yassine Brahimi (FC Porto/Portugal), Sofiane Feghouli (West Ham United/England), Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier Hérault/France)
Strikers : Islam Slimani, Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City FC/England), Hillal El Arabi Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb/Croatia), Rachid Ghezzal (Olympique Lyon/France-), Sofiane Hanni (RSC Anderlecht/Belgium)