Rankings:Caf: 2 Fifa: 19
Together with Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria are a team expected to make it through to the quarterfinals of the tournament and stage a resounding contest for African championship. Boasting star players like Antar Yahia, Karim Ziani and Nadir Belhadj, who bring experience and skill to the Algerian side, the team has been making great strides in establishing themselves as a team to beat in Africa.
Their road to qualification has been perfect, winning all their matches – a championship performance they will hope to carry to South Africa.
The last time they won the tournament was in 1990 and 22 years later, they were the kind of personnel, skill and experience that can make them champions of Africa.
Striker Islam Slimani of Algiers giants CR Belouizdad, who has been enjoying great form in front of goals, is expected to be a thorn in the oppositions’ defence. Complementing him is likely to be striker El Arbi Hillel Soudani, who now plays in Portugal. Before his Portuguese move the strike scored 48 goals for ASO Chlef, a local club in Algeria.
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Rais Mbolhi (Krylia Sovetov/RUS), Cédric Si Mohammed (JEM Béjaia), Azzeddine Doukha (USM Harrach). Defenders: Essaïd Belkalem (JS Kabylie), Carl Medjani (AC Ajaccio/FRA), Rafik Halliche (Academica/POR), Ali Rial (JS Kabylie), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio/FRA), Liassine Cadamuro (Real Sociedad/SP), Djamel Mesbah (AC Milan/ITA), Faouzi Ghoulam (Saint Etienne/FRA). Midfielders: Adlène Guedioura (Nothingham Forest/ANG), Medhi Lacen (Getafe/SP), Khaled Lemmouchia (Club Africain/TUN), Saad Tedjar (USM Alger), Hameur Bouazza (Racing Santander/SP), Ryad Boudebouz (Sochaux/FRA), Foued Kadir (Valenciennes/FRA), Sofiane Feghouli (Valence/SP) Forwards: Hilal Soudani (Guimares/POR), Islam Slimani (CR Belouizdad), Mohamed Amine Aoudia (ES Sétif), Yacine Bezzaz (CS Constantine)
– By Sipho Kekana
