Bougherra, Belhadj, Ziani Highlight Algeria’s Final, 23-Man World Cup Roster

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane’s final 23-man roster includes all the key players who helped Algeria qualify for the World Cup and reach the semifinals of January’s African Cup of Nations. Amongst the name players on the Desert Foxes’ roster: Mahjid Bougherra, Nadir Belhadj and Karim Ziani.

Algeria won a playoff with Egypt to win Group C in African qualifying. In South Africa, they will be grouped with the United States, England and Slovenia - again in a Group C.

The 23-man roster named Tuesday reflects Algeria’s strength in defense, where they are led by Glasgow Rangers’ Madjid Bougherra. Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj was also named to the team, though a suspension carried over from the Cup of Nations semifinal against Egypt means the left back will miss the Foxes’s opener. Rafik Halliche (Madeira) and Antar Yahia (Bochum) are the other mainstays on a back line that includes Abdelakder Laifaoui (ES Setif), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Habib Belaid (Eintracht Frankfurt), and Djamel Mesbah (Lecce).

Karim Ziani of Wolfsburg is Algeria’s creative presence in midfield. He is joined by Karim Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach), Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth) and captain Yazid Mansouri (Lorient) in a set-up that can play either three or four midfielders. Joining that quartet are Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander), Adlene Guidoura (Wolverhampton), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), and Foued Kadir (Valenciennes).

Saadane has only named three true forwards, with Rafik Saifi (Istres) and Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena) the most likely starting tandem. Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens) is the other forward selected in a group whose depth will be augmented by Matmour..

In goal, Rabah Saadane is dealing with another suspension, with Faouzi Chaouchi scheduled to miss the first two matches of the World Cup with a suspension incurred against Egypt in Angola. Veteran Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chief), the team’s former number one, could start the Slovenia and England matches, with Raid M’bolhi (Slavia Sofia) in reserve.

Algeria plays Slovenia, England, then the United States in Group C play.

Chaouchi, Faouzi (ES Setif)
Gaouaoui, Lounes (ASO Chief)
M’bolhi, Raid (Slavia Sofia)

Belaid, Habib (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Belhadj, Nadir (Portsmouth)
Bougherra, Madjid (Rangers)
Halliche, Rafik (Madeira)
Laifaoui, Abdelakder (ES Setif)
Medjani, Carl (Ajaccio)
Mesbah, Djamel (Lecce)
Yahia, Antar (Bochum)

Abdoun, Djamel (Nantes)
Boudebouz, Riad (Sochaux)
Guidoura, Adlene (Wolverhamption)
Kadir, Foued (Valenciennes)
Lacen, Medhi (Racing Santander)
Mansouri, Yazid (Lorient)
Matmour, Karim (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Yebda, Hassan (Portsmouth)
Ziani, Karim (Wolfsburg)

Djebbour, Rafik (AEK Athens)
Ghezzal, Abdelkader (Siena)
Saifi, Rafik (Istres)