Ilan Kebbal started for Paris FC in the 1-0 win at Auxerre on Saturday 7 November. Yet the Algeria midfielder is not among the 26 players named by Brahim Hemdani, the Algeria head coach, for the double header against Togo.
The scene unfolded on Saturday 7 November, in Paris FC’s 1-0 win on the pitch at Auxerre in Ligue 1. Ilan Kebbal started the match and was replaced by Patrick Zabi in the second half, reports Sport News Africa. A club game, just days before an international gathering he is not called up for.
For the midfielder is not among the 26 players called up by Brahim Hemdani to face Togo on 14 and 17 November, according to Le Matin d’Algérie and Radio Algérie. An absence that fuels the debate over the head coach’s choices, with the Algerian press already singling out several names left out.
Sinayoko, the other Parisian in form
If Kebbal played in the match, it was Lassine Sinayoko who made the difference. The Mali striker of Paris FC scored the only goal of the game, diverting a Pablo Pagis shot after the break, again according to Sport News Africa.
Sinayoko leads the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 9 goals and sits second in the assists table with 5, according to Ligue1.com.
A squad without Kebbal, Aït-Nouri or Zorgane
Hemdani’s call-up therefore features other names. The head coach selected Himad Abdelli, the Olympique de Marseille midfielder, alongside Bensebaïni, Gouiri, Boudaoui, Amoura, Azzi and Rebbach, according to Footafrica.net and Radio Algérie. Mohamed Azzi, of CSKA Moscow, and Abderrahmane Rebbach, of Deportivo Alavés, are called up for the first time.
Conversely, Kebbal, Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City) and Adam Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise) are absent from the squad, according to Footafrica.net. The article gives no official explanation for these omissions, and nothing suggests they are linked to the Parisian starting at Auxerre.
The Algerian press, for its part, was quick to react. Foot Algérien criticises a squad that leaves out in-form players such as Ramiz Zerrouki and Saïd Benrahma.
Togo in their sights
On the pitch, Algeria go into this international window top of Group I, Footafrica.net indicates. The first match against Togo is played on 14 November, the second on 17 November, this time away from home.
It is on these two games that Hemdani’s choices will be judged. According to Foot Algérien, the debate over his squad, between the absences of Kebbal and Aït-Nouri and criticism of the players left out, is likely to flare up again after the matches.