The Algeria AFCON 2023 squad is out – and the 2019 winners are confident of repeating the trick as they enter the tournament on the back of a long unbeaten run
The Algeria AFCON 2023 squad has been announced, ahead of the tournament beginning this month.
Algeria claimed their second AFCON title in 2019 by beating Senegal through Baghdad Bounedjah's early goal. His strike benefited from a big deflection but joyous supporters couldn't have cared less.
They will be hoping for more to celebrate this year as one of the pre-tournament favourites. The Desert Warriors still have Bounedjah to call on, alongside fellow veterans Riyad Mahrez, Sofiane Feghouli and Islam Slimani.
Mahrez in action at AFCON (Image credit: Getty Images)
Alongside that core of experience, young prospects like Fares Chaibi and Mohamed Amoura have started to make their mark, while Rayan Ait-Nouri and Houssem Aouar have been persuaded to switch their international allegiance from France.
Djamel Belmadi, a former Algerian international, has been in charge since August 2018 and enjoys an impressive record. As well as claiming the AFCON crown, he has helped his team rise to 30th in the FIFA world rankings. Although they just missed out on a place at the last World Cup, controversially losing a play-off against Cameroon on away goals, the North Africans have recovered well from that shock.
Algeria are currently unbeaten since a defeat to Sweden in November 2022 and have a favourable route to the knockout rounds. Their group consists of Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
Djamel Belmadi was a creative midfielder who spent the majority of his career in France, but had brief spells with Manchester City and Southampton. He established his managerial credentials in Qatar, before taking over the Algerian national team more than five years ago. Belmadi almost immediately guided them to AFCON success.
Algeria star player
Who is Algeria's best player?
Riyad Mahrez (Image credit: Getty Images)
Riyad Mahrez played a significant role in Manchester City's treble win last season, with 15 goals and 13 assists in all competitions. A mercurial talent, who loves cutting inside from the right flank to create and score, he has long been Algeria's captain and star man. At his best, the 32-year-old can conjure something out of nothing.
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Sean Cole is a freelance journalist. He has written for FourFourTwo, BBC Sport and When Saturday Comes among others. A Birmingham City supporter and staunch Nikola Zigic advocate, he once scored a hat-trick at St. Andrew’s (in a half-time game). He also has far too many football shirts and spends far too much time reading the Wikipedia pages of obscure players.
