Algeria’s national team pose prior to the Round of 16 match between Germany and Algeria at Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 30, 2014. (AFP Photo/Kirill Kudryavtsev)
Algiers, Reuters—Algeria named all 23 players from their World Cup squad and eight more considered unlucky to miss the final cut for Brazil for their opening qualifiers for next year’s African Nations Cup finals, the country’s soccer federation said on Friday.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adlene Guedioura, who was cut from the World Cup squad just days before the deadline, was recalled by new coach Christian Gourcuff to the expanded 31-man squad that includes only one uncapped player, Olympique Lyonnaise defender Mehdi Zeffane.
The Algerians, who impressed in Brazil under then coach Vahid Halilhodzic by advancing to the second round, open their African Nations Cup campaign away against Ethiopia on September 6 and host Mali at home six days later.
Algeria are among the favorites for the tournament, being hosted in neighboring Morocco from January 18–February 8.