Algeria have drafted in experienced defender Houcine Benayada to bolster their squad ahead of Saturday’s 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Gambia, following a series of injury withdrawals that have disrupted the team’s preparations.
Defensive concerns deepened this week as USM Alger’s Imadeddine Azzi became the latest player to pull out of the national team camp.
Azzi, who arrived at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Center nursing a physical issue, was forced to withdraw from the squad on Wednesday after failing to recover sufficiently to participate in full training sessions.
His departure follows the earlier exit of midfielder Mohamed Benkhemassa of MC Alger, who had already been ruled out due to injury.
With the squad suddenly stretched at the back, head coach Madjid Bougherra responded by recalling Benayada, the 32-year-old CR Belouizdad defender.
A seasoned international, Benayada has previously made 18 appearances for the national team, including a starring role in Algeria’s victorious 2021 Arab Cup campaign under Bougherra’s leadership.
Benayada, who has also played club football for Étoile du Sahel and Wydad Casablanca, had been absent from the national setup in recent years.
His last senior appearance came during a friendly match against Mali in November 2022. Since then, he had gradually slipped down the pecking order under former head coach Djamel Belmadi, as younger players were integrated into the team.
His return to the squad now, under the guidance of interim coach Bougherra, may represent a final opportunity to contribute at the international level—particularly as new boss Vladimir Petkovic is expected to focus on long-term squad development.
Despite his time away from the main national team, Benayada brings valuable experience and leadership to a squad composed largely of home-based players, in keeping with CHAN regulations which limit participation to domestic-league footballers.
His presence is expected to help stabilize a defense hit by injuries at a crucial juncture in Algeria’s qualifying campaign.
The Fennecs completed a training session in Sidi Moussa on Wednesday before departing for Banjul on Thursday afternoon. The first leg of the qualifier against Gambia is set for Saturday, 3 May at 15:00 local time.
A positive result will be essential if Algeria are to progress to the final stages of the CHAN tournament, a competition in which they will be looking to assert themselves despite the current squad challenges.
The CHAN tournament, distinct from the Africa Cup of Nations, features players who compete in their respective national leagues.
For Bougherra and his team, qualification remains the immediate goal, but the recent setbacks highlight the fragile balance in a squad lacking depth due to injuries and limited international exposure.
Nonetheless, the call-up of a veteran like Benayada suggests that Algeria are determined to blend experience with domestic talent in their quest for continental success.
Whether this gamble pays off will become clearer when the Fennecs take to the field in Banjul this weekend.
