Algerian National Team News

[TonyStarks]

According to local newspaper Liberte, the national team head coach Jean-Michel Cavalli has recalled FC Sochaux midfielder Karim Ziani to the team after omitting him for the trip to Guinea. After picking up a red card in a friendly against Gabon, Cavalli did not want to risk using an ineligible player for the game, even though it turned out that Ziani was not facing a suspension. Ziani has 22 caps with the Algerian national team. Also recalled to the team is Grenoble striker Nassim Akrour. The 32-year old striker has had a terrific start to the season, notching up 4 goals in 9 appearances. Akrour has 18 caps, his last one coming in a friendly against China in 2004. The article also mentioned that Cavalli will use the same group of players called up for the Guinea game with the exception of Anthar Yahia, who is suspended and the addition of Ziani, Akrour and ES Setif defender Adel Maiza.

[TonyStarks]

Algerian national team head coach Jean-Michel Cavalli has announced the squad for Algeria's African Cup qualifier against Gambia:

Goalkeepers
Lounes Gaouaoui (JS Kabylie) {22 caps}
Mohamed Ousserir (NA Hussein Dey) {0 caps}
Samir Hadjaoui (ES Setif) {4 caps}

Defenders
Nadir Belhadj (CS Sedan, France) {15 caps}
Madjid Bougherra (Sheffield Wednesday, England D2) {11 caps}
Adel Maiza (ES Setif) {1 cap}
Mohamed Rabie Meftah (JS Kabylie) {2 caps}
Mehdi Meniri (SC Bastia, France D2) {11 caps}
Abderraouf Zarabi (AC Ajaccio, France D2) {7 caps}

Midfielders
Lazhar Hadj Aissa (ES Setif) {3 caps}
Kamel Larbi (OGC Nice, France) {0 caps}
Yazid Mansouri (FC Lorient, France) {34 caps}
Hocine Metref (USM Alger) {4 caps}
Brahim Arafat Mezouar (MC Oran) {12 caps}
Rafik Saifi (FC Lorient, France) {34 caps, 11 goals}
Karim Ziani (FC Sochaux, France) {22 caps}

Strikers
Amri Chadli (FSV Mainz 05, Germany) {1 cap}
Ali Boulebda (US Creteil, France D2) {2 caps}
Mansour Boutabout (CS Sedan, France) {18 caps, 6 goals}
Abdelmalek Cherrad (SC Bastia, France D2) {16 caps, 7 goals}
Noureddine Deham (FC Kaiserslautern, Germany D2) {4 caps, 1 goal}
Hamza Yacef (JS Kabylie) {8 caps, 1 goal}

[TonyStarks]

My thoughts on the team selected:

Goalkeepers - Kind of surprised to see Ousserir and Hadjaoui picked especially when you consider that Mezair (MC Oran), Abdouni (MC Alger), Zemmmamouche (USM Alger), Sennaoui (Olympique Marseille) and Benhamou (AS Cannes) were all left out. Gaouaoui has been less than impressive his last few games and I've never really been convinced by his abilities. He's decent but makes too many mistakes, especially when he tries to come out of his goal.

Defenders - Not too surprising except maybe seeing Maiza in there, who really doesnt have the talent to play at the international level. Would have loved to Madouni (Bayer Leverkusen) called up for this game as he's been in excellent form but I guess he still has his insurance problems with the FAF. Other than that I think the defense is alright.

Midfielders - Almost perfect selection for midfielders. With the return of Karim Ziani and with Hadj Aissa and Saifi both healthy we have enough options in the middle. Kind of dissappointed that Achiou (FC Aarau) was not called up after his impressive display 2 weeks ago but he'll definitely get called up for the next game. I was also hoping for a recall for Belmadi who's been terrific with Southampton this season. Also, I hope to see AC Ajaccio's Seid Khiter getting called up in the near future. Only 21 years old and has scored 5 goals in 10 games for his team in Ligue 2 (he's on loan from RC Lens).

Strikers - Not sure why Boulebda (Creteil) is getting picked. He's scored just once in 9 games for Creteil, who are last in Ligue 2. Happy to see Cherrad back on the team, even though he's probably not ready to play. Yacef is injured and will probably miss the game. Those 3 should have been replaced by Akrour (Grenoble), Bourahli (ES Setif) and Bouazza (Watford). So its going to be down to Amri, Boutabout and Deham up front.

We can definitely win this game and should win it with the team called up. Cavalli is trying to give the team some consistency in the selections and probably didnt want to call up too many different faces from the team that drew 0-0 2 against Guinea.

[Al-khiyal]

As the Scorpions prepare to take on Algeria in their second group match in the 2008 Nation’s Cup qualifiers, the national football governing body, GFA, has invited 15 foreign based players for the keenly-anticipated encounter, slated for Saturday, October 7th in Algiers.

Among the invited 15, include the prolific Abdou Jammeh, commonly known as T-Boy, former Steve Biko defender who now plies his route with FC Zarzis in the Tunisian professional league. Jammeh delighted the hearts of the Gambian fans during the Scorpions thrilling 2-0 home win over Cape Verde early this month in Banjul. Jatto Ceesay, The Gambia’s mesmeric midfielder is also included in the team that will face Algeria. Other invited players include Pa Dembo Touray from Sweden, Simon Badjie from Italy, Abdoulie Corr and Kamal Ndow from Cyprus, Dawda Bah from Finland, Mustapha Jarju, Assan Jatta, Sefo Soley and Ebou Sillah, all from Belgium, Modou Jagne from Austria, Njogu Demba from Denmark and Kemo Ceesay from Germany.

The foreign based players who will be joined by few other selected home based players are expected to converge in Germany for a possible training camp, ahead of the match. This proposal was forwarded by the newly appointed German coach, Anthony Hey, who is currently in his native Germany.

Hey's main task is to qualify the Gambia for their first-ever African Nations Cup finals in 2008. The Scorpions currently lead Group Eight after beating Cape Verde 2-0 in their opening match earlier this month in Banjul.

"Currently we lead our group and the match against Algeria is one of the tasks ahead of us, if we are to qualify for the first time,'' Hey was quoted saying. The Gambia’s other group opponents are Guinea.

Abdou Jammeh, Jatto Ceesay, others invited...as Scorpions prepare to take on Algeria

[TonyStarks]

Word is that Cavalli is going to start Cherrad and Saifi up front in attack. If this is true, then be ready for a SHOW! Everyone knows what Saifi is capable of and Cherrad is the best finisher we probably have on the team and much better than Boutabout and Deham. Throw in the fact that they will be playing in front of Karim Ziani and Chadli Amri (or Lazhar Hadj Aissa) and you start to realize how much potential this squad has. Only problem is defence with Yahia injured and Meniri always shaky at hte back but I think we'll be alright for this game. Cavalli will probably play Bougherra-Meniri-Zarabi in the heart of the defence with Belhadj and Meftah playing on the wings and Mansouri in his usual defensive mid spot.

[TonyStarks]

Also, Hamza Yacef has been excused from the team since he's injured. He will be replaced by USMA defender Mohamed Hamdoud.

[F-Unit13]

we must win nothing else.....!!