Algeria goalkeeper Yessli says he would have walked from China for national-team call-up

Ryane Yessli says he was so determined to join Algeria’s squad that he would have walked from China to answer the call.

The Olympique Akbou goalkeeper was summoned by Algeria coach Ibrahim Hamdani after MC Alger goalkeeper Abdelatif Ramdane left the squad following the death of his father.

“I told Ibrahim Hamdani, the Algeria coach, that even if I had been in China, I would have come – even if I had to walk – to answer the national team’s call,” Yessli told reporters.

“I am very proud of this call-up. I have fulfilled one of my biggest dreams by joining the Algeria national team, and the match against Togo will be very special for me.”

Yessli has been included in the squad for Algeria’s two matches against Togo in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The fixtures will be played on 14 and 17 November.

Al Ahly forward Moncef Bekrar is also part of the Algeria squad for the two games, while Pyramids striker Ahmed Nader has not been selected by Hamdani.

Algeria began their qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Zambia before drawing 2-2 with Burundi.

The Desert Foxes, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, are aiming to qualify for the 2027 tournament, which will be held in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.