MBABANE – Algeria’s Under-23 squad boasts a strong European contingent, with 13 foreign-based players named in a 24-man selection preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of qualifiers.
Head coach Rafik Saïfi assembled the squad for a training camp in Algiers and two international friendlies against South Africa as the North Africans stepped up preparations for the second qualifying round in November.
The selection combines 11 players from Algeria’s domestic league with 13 attached to clubs abroad, particularly in France, as Saïfi assesses his options ahead of the continental campaign.
Among those attracting attention is Le Mans midfielder Adil Ali Bourabaa, who registered three goals and two assists in five appearances prior to his call-up. Troyes left-back Anis Ouzenadji, 19, is another notable inclusion after starting five consecutive Ligue 1 matches.
Lyon’s Kail Boudache and Marseille’s Kelyann Bezahaf further strengthen the European-based group. Meanwhile, 21-year-old forward Yanis Senhadji, who plays for Spanish side Real Jaén after switching sporting nationality from Spain, featured in the first friendly against South Africa and scored in the 44th minute.
Algeria suffered a 3-1 defeat in that opening encounter after conceding three second-half goals, before drawing 1-1 in the second meeting through a Benahmed Kohili strike.
The matches provided Saïfi with a vital opportunity to test his squad against southern African opposition and identify key areas for improvement before competitive action resumes.
Algeria enter the second qualifying round in November, where they will face the winner of the two-legged tie between Eswatini and Malawi. The outcome of that fixture will determine whether Eswatini’s youth side or Malawi advance to meet the North African giants.
Algeria Under-23 Squad
Goalkeepers
• Yasser Zitouni – USM Khenchela (Algeria)
• Mohamed Anes Mokhtar – CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
• Zakaria Trad – ES Sétif (Algeria)
Defenders
• Faiz Mohamed Belgourai – CS Constantine (Algeria)
• Kelyann Khelifa Bezahaf – Olympique de Marseille (France)
• Anis Fatahine – Le Puy Foot (France)
• Anis Bilale Ouzenadji – ESTAC Troyes (France)
• Yacine Chaib – MC Alger (Algeria)
• Gaetan Bakhouche-Piernas – Toulouse FC (France)
• Issam Abdelhamid Naim – ES Sétif (Algeria)
Midfielders
• Abdelhak Ben Idder – OGC Nice (France)
• Adil Ali Bourabaa – Le Mans (France)
• Karim Boutera – Degerfors IF (Sweden)
• Abdelouahab Satta – MC Alger (Algeria)
• Salah Eddine Bouziani – USM Alger (Algeria)
• Daryll Matys Benlahlou – Montpellier (France)
• Mokrane Bentoumi – Roda JC (Netherlands)
• Willsem Boussaid – RSC Anderlecht (Belgium)
Forwards
• Islam Djelali Ramla – Amiens SC (France)
• Kail Boudache – Olympique Lyonnais (France)
• Abdelmalek Kelalech – CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
• Yanis Senhadji – Real Jaén (Spain)
• Benahmed Kohili – MC Alger (Algeria)
• Mohammed Ramdaoui – USM Alger (Algeria)
