Algeria Names Mahrez, Slimani, 16 Other Warriors For Eagles

Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani are among the 18 players named by new Algeria coach Georges Leekins to confront Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

The Desert Foxes trail Nigeria by two points in Group B and will seek to close the gap on the group leaders when both sides face off in Uyo on November 12. Cameroon and Zambia are the other teams that make up the group.

Other players expected in the Algerian camp, which opens on November 6, are Nabil Bentaleb of Schalke 04 in Germany and centre-back, Hicham Belkaroui.

Also coming from England is Sofiane Feghouli of West Ham. He has Yacine Brahimi, Ryad Boudebouz, and Mehdi Abeid to contend with for position in the midfield.

Adam Ounas, who recently switched allegiance from France to Algeria, is also in the squad, just as Antalyaspor’s Rais M’Bolhi, who is the only foreign-based goalkeeper in the squad.

The full list

Goalkeeper

Rais M’Bolhi (Antalyaspor, Turkey, goalkeeper)

Defenders

Carl Medjani (CD Leganés, Spain)

Liassine Cadamuro (Servette Geneva, Switzerland)

Hicham Belkaroui (ES Tunis)

Aissa Mandi (Real Betis, Spain)

Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli, Italy)

Midfielders

Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto Portugal)

Sofiane Feghouli (West Ham United, England)

Nabil Betaleb (Schalke 04, Germany)

Rachid Ghezzal (Olympique Lyon, France)

Mehdi Abeid (Dijon FCO, France)

Adlène Guedioura (Watford FC, England)

Sapphire Taïder (Bologna FC, Italy)

Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier Hérault, France)

Adam Ounas (Bordeaux, France)

Forwards

Hilal Soudani El Arabi (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia)

Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City, England)

Islam Slimani (Leicester City, England)

In the meantime, striker El Arabi Hillel Soudani insists his side is confident of a positive result when they meet Nigeria.

Soudani, who scored the goal in his side’s 1-1 draw with Cameroun, believes the Desert Warriors have nothing to fear ahead of their match in Uyo.

“We conceded a draw at home against Cameroun and allowed two precious points [to slip away],” Soudani told Croatian reporters.

“The next match will take us in Nigeria, who come from a victory in Zambia. So we know that our mission will be very difficult. But if we can come back with a good result, our chances will be revived.

“We’re really confident. We will prepare thoroughly in Nigeria and we will see what will happen.”