The Algeria national football team has unveiled its squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and coach Djamel Belmadi has stirred controversy by retaining defender Youcef Atal, who is currently facing legal issues in France.
Atal recently faced suspension from his club, OGC Nice, due to the sharing of contentious social media content, leading to accusations of inciting hatred. Although the details surrounding the incident remain unclear, Atal issued an apology, and the charges were later reduced to incitement of religious hatred. Despite the controversy, Belmadi has chosen to stand by the seasoned defender as Algeria aims to compete for the AFCON title.
The squad selection involved challenging decisions, including the omission of West Ham forward Said Benrahma, following a fallout between him and Belmadi during a recent friendly match. Established players like Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer secured spots in the team, alongside experienced talents playing abroad, such as Islam Slimani.
Algeria is set to face a challenging task in Group D during this year’s tournament, competing against teams like Angola, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso. Hosted by Ivory Coast, the AFCON competition will take place from January 13 to February 11. Belmadi and his chosen players aim to replicate the success of the 2019 event and clinch another trophy.
As the tournament unfolds, football enthusiasts across Africa and globally will closely monitor the performance of some of the continent’s prominent stars representing their national teams. Algeria enters the AFCON with high expectations and a significant incentive to perform well in the upcoming matches.
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