Algeria Searching For A Top Defender To Stop Iwobi, Iheanacho

Ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Nigeria next month in Uyo, the Algerian Football Federation are in search of a top defender to strengthen the national team after the back-line struggled in their opener against Cameroon.

Le Buteur is reporting that the Federation have beamed their searchlight on footballers playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, and have planned a get-together for the invited players in the coming days.

USM Algiers star Mohamed Benyahia , a former Algeria U17 international, is one of the candidates being considered in defense along with Mohamed Khoutir Ziti of ES Sétif, who could replace Mehdi Zeffane in the roster for the Nigeria clash.

Meanwhile, Morocco manager Hervé Renard, who has been courted by Nigeria in the past, is the latest name linked with the vacant Desert Foxes job to offset the departure of Milovan Rajevac.

Algeria have qualified for the World Cup on four occasions while their next opponents Nigeria have attended five of the last six editions of football’s showpiece event.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel