Algeria name 28-man AFCON squad with Luca Zidane likely in goal

Algeria name 28-man AFCON squad with Luca Zidane likely in goal

Guendouz sustained a knee injury earlier this week in the Algerian league and was left out of the 28-man squad announced on Saturday, leaving Zidane well placed to start in Morocco. 

The late setback has forced coach Vladimir Petkovic to reshuffle his goalkeeping options ahead of the continental showpiece, wrote Flashscore.

The 27-year-old, who plays for Spanish second-tier side Granada, only recently committed his international future to Algeria after previously representing France at youth level.

Zidane made his senior debut for the Desert Foxes in October during a World Cup qualifier and now appears ready for a bigger role on the African stage.

With family roots in Algeria’s Kabylie region, Zidane is expected to be ahead of Oussama Benbot and recalled Anthony Mandrea in the pecking order. 

Mandrea’s inclusion comes after a surprise recall, having previously been dropped when Petkovic was reluctant to select a goalkeeper playing in France’s third tier following Caen’s relegation from Ligue 2.

Algeria have been drawn in Group E alongside Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan, with expectations high for a squad blending experience and emerging talent.

The squad includes striker Baghdad Bounedjah, scorer of the winning goal in the 2019 AFCON final against Senegal, while Olympique de Marseille attacker Amine Gouiri is a notable absentee after undergoing shoulder surgery. 

Gouiri is not expected back until February and misses AFCON for a second consecutive tournament due to injury.

Algeria AFCON squad

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Luca Zidane (Granada), Anthony Mandrea (Caen)

Defenders: Ryan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City), Youcef Atal (Al Sadd), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghani (Hellas Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)

Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Ismael Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente), Adem Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise)

Forwards: Mohamed Amoura (Werder Bremen), Monsef Bakrar (Dinamo Zagreb), Redouane Berkane (Al Wakrah), Adil Boulbina (Al Duhail), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Shamal), Anis Hadj-Moussa (Feyenoord), Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli)

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