Mahrez in Algeria team to face Zambia

Striker Riyad Mahrez will lead Algeria’s charge against Zambia next week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B doubleheader.

The Leicester City striker is joined by hs club mate Islam Slimani and Yacine Brahimi of Porto in Portugal.

Goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi of French club Rennes has also been selected for the September 2 away and september 5 home leg.

Coach Lucas Alcaraz has also named four players from Algeria’s 2018 CHAN team that failed to qualify for the Kenya tournament after it was eliminated by 2014 champions Libya.

Zambia and Algeria are tied on 1 point after two rounds of matches played,one point behind second placed Cameroon and five points adrift of leaders Nigeria.

Team:

Goalkeepers: Rais M’Bolhi (Rennes – France) Abdelkadir Salhi (CR Belouizdad – Algeria), Mehdi Jeannin (Clermont Foot – France).

Defenders: Faouzi Ghoulam (SSC Napoli – Italy), Brahim Boudebouda (MC Algiers – Algeria), Youcef Atal (KV Kortrijk – Belgium), Rami Bensebaïni (Rennes – France), Carl Medjani (Trabzonspor – Turkey), Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis – Spain), Ilias Hassani (Cherno More Varna – Bulgaria).

Midfielders: Raouf Benguit (USM Algiers – Algeria), Adlene Guedioura (Middlesbrough FC – England), Nabil Bentaleb (FC Schalke 04 – Germany), Saphir Taïder (Bologna FC – Italy), Sofiane Daham (Sochaux – France),Kamel Belarbi (USM El Harrach – Algeria)

Forward: Hilal El Arabi Soudani (GNK Dinamo Zagreb – Croatia), Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto – Portugal), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City FC – England), Sofiane Hanni(RSC Anderlecht – , Rachid Ghezzal (AS Monaco – France), Islam Slimani (Leicester City FC – England), Idriss Saadi (RC Strasbourg – France), Usama Darfalou (USM Alger – Algeria).