Riyad Mahrez hints at Algeria using a ‘weaker’ squad against Uganda

Algeria will miss services of two midfielders against Uganda. DzFoot

AFCON 2023 Riyad Mahrez hints at Algeria using a ‘weaker’ squad against Uganda

Fred Mwambu • 13:16 - 17.06.2023

Algeria has already qualified for the 2023 AFCON, while Uganda needs to win the remaining two fixtures to have a chance.

Algeria's national team captain has hinted that Coach Djamel Belmadi might rest some key players in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda on Sunday in Cameroon.

Algeria has already qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Ivory Coast after winning all four games.

Mahrez told the media that the coach could use the game to test some new players in the team.

“We are already qualified for the AFCON, [so] it is a match where the coach will be able to test [some new] things,” he tipped.

“It's a good game for newbies; It will do them good as they don't know Africa,” he added.

Uganda, with four points, must win the game to keep their hopes of qualifying for the tournament.

Looking at the Algerian squad, one can pick out the local-based players as the second-string players; however, all the four who were called from USM Algers are the winners of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Algeria 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)

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