Mahrez part of star-studded Algeria squad to take on Uganda

Mahrez in action for City against Brentford|Imago

AFCON 2023 Mahrez part of star-studded Algeria squad to take on Uganda

Allan Damba • 11:11 - 31.05.2023

Algeria national team Djamel Belmadi has included Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez as part of the team to take on Uganda Cranes in the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Desert Foxes face the Cranes on June 18 at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon.

A section of Ugandans expected the North African side would leave out some of the big names, as they have already qualified for the finals slated for Ivory Coast.

Mahrez was a key part of the Manchester City squad that won the English Premier League and is also set to play the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup finals with Inter Milan and Manchester United, respectively.

The team also includes Olympique Lyon star Houssem Aouar, who only switched from featuring for the French national team in March.

Houssem Aouar in action for Lyon against Stade Reims|imago

The team to face Uganda also features Westham forward Said Benrahma, Ramy Bansabaini, Angers' Nabil Bentaleb and Anderlecht's Islam Slimani.

Algeria to Group F with 12 points while Tanzania and Uganda come second and third on four points respectively. Niger at the base, has three.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers; Moustapha Zeghba (Damac, Saudi Arabia), Anthony Mandrea (Caen, France), Oussama Benbot (USM Alger, Algeria)

Defenders; Kevin Van Den Kerkhof Guitoun (Bastia, France), Mehdi Leris (Sampdoria, Italy), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal, Spain), Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger, Algeria), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance de Tunis, Tunisia), Ramy Bensabaini (Gladbach, Germany), Haithem Loucif (USM Alger, Algeria), Jaouen Hadjam (Nantes, France), Ahmed Touba (İstanbul Başakşehir, Turkey)

Midfielders; Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice, France), Nabil Bentaleb (Angers, France), Victor Lekhal (Le Harve, France), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente, Netherlands), Hossem Aouar (Olympique Lyon, France), Himad Abdelli (Angers, France)

Forwards; Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City, England), Badredine Bouanani (OGC Nice, France), Said Benrahma (West Ham, England), Farès Chaïbi (Toulouse, France), Mohamed El Amine Amoura (Lugano, Switzerland), Islam Slimani (Anderlecht, Belgium), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd, Qatar), Aymen Mahious (USM Alger, Algeria)