FIFA declares three former French junior internationals eligible to play for Algeria
World football’s governing body approved a request for a change of nationality for Habib Belaid, Ryad Boudebouz and Mohamed Chakhouri on Tuesday.
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- This means all three players will be available to play for the Desert Warriors at the World Cup in June.
- This will come as a boost for the Algerians as they are without a number of players through injury.
- The trio all played for France at junior level but, because they are dual nationals and have not been capped at senior level, they are eligible to represent Algeria.
- Belaid and Boudebouz were named in a preliminary squad of 25 by Algeria coach Rabah Saadane this month for their pre-World Cup preparations, which start in Switzerland on Thursday.
- Fifa said it had also received a request from Algeria about former Liverpool midfielder Carl Medjani, who now plays for Ajaccio in the French second division.
- “The matter is being assessed and a decision will be taken very soon,” a spokesperson said.
- Algeria have been drawn in World Cup Group C along with England, Slovenia and the United States.