New keepers to audition for Algeria
Algeria are looking to solve their goalkeeping situation and have named two uncapped players to their squad for friendlies this month against Guatemala and Uruguay.
Coach Vladimir Petkovic named six new players overall in his 27-man squad for the two World Cup warm-up games.
Algeria take on Guatemala on March 27 in Genoa, Italy and then Uruguay on March 31 in Turin.
Algeria is finding a successor to Rais Mbolhi, who won 96 caps between 2010 and 2024, a major headache. Anthony Mandrea took over initially, but then home-based goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz moved up to first choice. But he got injured on the eve of the Cup of Nations finals in December, which then boosted Luca Zidane up the pecking order.
The technical team has now initiated a new search which has so far uncovered Kilian Belazzoug, a 19-year-old junior at Stade Rennais in France, and Melvin Mastil, who has an imposing frame but who plays in the Swiss second division.
The squad also includes four new outfield players: strikers Nadir Benbouali, who plays for Győri ETO in Hungary, and Farès Ghedjemis from Frosinone in Italy, plus defenders Achraf Abada and midfielder Adil Aouchiche, who is based in Germany.
Forwards Amine Gouiri and Amin Chiakha, midfielders Houssem Aouar and Yacine Titraoui, as well as defender Sohaïb Naïr, all return to the squad.
However, no fewer than 11 players who were part of the last Cup of Nations squad are not included for various reasons, such as experienced forward Baghdad Bounedjah as well as central defender Mohamed-Amine Tougaï and midfielder Ismaël Bennacer.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kilian Belazzoug (Stade Rennais, France), Anthony Mandrea (Caen, France), Mastil (Stade Nyonnais, Switzerland), Luca Zidane (Granada, Spain)
Defenders: Achraf Abada (USM Alger), Ryan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City, England), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona, Italy), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Mehdi Dorval (Bari, Italy), Aissa Mandi (Lille, France), Sohaïb Naïr (Guingamp, France)
Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Adil Aouchiche (Schalke 04, Germany), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Yacine Titraoui (Charleroi, Belgium), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente, Netherlands)
Forwards: Mohamed Amoura (Werder Bremen, Germany), Nadir Benbouali (Győri ETO, Hungary), Redouane Berkane (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Adil Boulbina (Al Duhail, Qatar), Amin Chiakha (Rosenborg, Norway), Amine Gouiri (Olympique de Marseille, France), Farès Ghedjemis (Frosinone, Italy), Anis Hadj-Moussa (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli).