Algeria announce 26-man squad for AFCON 2023; Riyad Mahrez included

Algeria aim to win their third continental title

Algeria have announced their final 26-player squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament (AFCON 2023) to be held in Ivory Coast next month.

Youcef Atal, presently on trial in France accused of inciting hatred, has been selected in Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad by head coach Djamel Belmadi.

The 27-year-old defender has not played for his Ligue 1 side Nice since mid-October after he caused a furore by posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatened Israel with a “black day”.

The team has been drawn in Group D alongside Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

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Algeria have some big names playing for some of the best clubs in the world. Riyad Mahrez will be their biggest player. He won the treble with Man City before moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

Algeria squad for AFCON 2023

Goalkeepers: Anthony Mandrea (Caen, France), Rais Mbolhi (CR Belouizdad), Oussama Benbot (USM Alger, Algeria)

Defenders: Youcef Atal (Nice, France), Kevin van den Kerkhof (Metz, France), Rayan Ait Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Yasser Larouci (Sheffield United, England), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal, Spain), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance Tunis, Tunisia), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Ahmed Touba (Lecce, Italy), Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger)

Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Lille, France), Sofiane Feghouli (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey), Houssem Aouar (Roma, Italy), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Ramiz Zerrouki (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice, France), Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan, Italy)

Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Adam Ounas (Lille, France), Mohamed Amoura (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Amine Gouiri (Rennes, France), Youcef Belaili (MC Alger), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd, Qatar), Islam Slimani (Coritiba, Brazil)

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