Africa-Press – Angola. With two titles won, the Algerian team, Angola’s debut opponent, on January 15th, at the Stade de la Paix, in Bouaké, seeks the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN2023), which starts this Saturday at Côte D’Ivoire, “infiltrate” the restricted group of four countries with three or more trophies.
The restricted group of most crowned teams in the 67 years of CAN’s existence is led by Egypt, holder of seven titles, followed by Cameroon (5), Ghana (4) and Nigeria (3).
The “Desert Foxes”, as they are also known, debuted in this competition in 1980 and became CAN champions on two occasions.
The first achievement occurred on home soil, in 1990, the year in which it hosted the competition for the first and only time, beating Nigeria in the final 1-0, at the 5 de Julho Stadium.
The Algerians’ second continental trophy was won in 2021, when they beat Senegal 1-0, in the final played at the International Stadium in Cairo (Egypt), 29 years after “crossing the desert”.
With the title achieved in the 33rd edition, the Algerians positioned themselves alongside Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1968 and 1974), the only nations with two-time CAN championships.
To achieve the desired “tri” in the African Championship of Nations (CAN’2023), to be played from January 13th to February 11th, in Côte d’Ivoire, the Desert Foxes, with a mix of survivors from 2019 and new blood led by experienced striker and former Manchester City player, Riyad Mahrez, will face the teams of Angola, Burkina and Mauritania in group D.
In this “thorny” challenge, the Government of that country announced that it will cover 50% of the costs relating to fans’ plane tickets to travel to the competition stage in order to guarantee support for the players.
The initiative is from the President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboun, which will benefit two thousand fans with reduced travel costs.
Riyad Mahrez confident of winning the trophy
Experience and luck will be fundamental for Algeria to win the 34th edition of the CAN, according to Riyad Mahrez, 32 years old, currently playing for Al Ahly Jeddah in Saudi Arabia,
“I and many of my teammates on the Algerian team know everything about the Nations Cup. Starting well is often crucial,” the Algerian captain was confident.
Amine Gouiri, 23-year-old jewel, misses Desert Foxes
23-year-old striker Amine Gouiri, who plays for Rennes de France, is one of the most influential players in the Algerian team who will be absent from the competition due to an injury.
Striker Said Benrahma, a West Ham player from England, will also be left out of CAN, leaving Algeria’s squad list after falling out with coach Djamel Belmadi, a few months before the start of the competition.
Algeria’s squad will be made up of players who play in the main football championships in the world, namely England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.
Here are those called up:
Goalkeepers: Anthony Mandrea (Caen/FRA), Rais Mbolhi (CR Belouizdad/ALG), Oussama Benbot (USM Alger/ALG), Moustapha Zeghba (Damac/KSA)
Defenders: Youcef Atal (Nice/FRA), Kevin van den Kerkhof (Metz/FRA), Rayan Ait Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderer/ENG), Yasser Larouci (Sheffield United/ENG), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal/ESP), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance Tunis/TUN), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund/ALE), Ahmed Touba (Lecce/ITA), Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger/ALG)
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Lille/FRA), Sofiane Feghouli (Fatih Karagumruk/TUR), Houssem Aouar (Roma/ITA), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt/ALE), Ramiz Zerrouki (Feyenoord/HOL), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice /FRA), Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan/ITA)
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli/KSA), Adam Ounas (Lille/FRA), Mohamed Amoura (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL), Youcef Belaili (MC Alger/ALG), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd/QAT), Islam Slimani (Coritiba/BRA).
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