BENTALEB SLAMS FALSE REPORTS ABOUT HIS ABSENCE FROM ALGERIA SQUAD
Nabil Bentaleb has voiced his anger at false claims surrounding his withdrawal from Algeria’s squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho. The Tottenham midfielder, excluded from the match, reacted furiously to media speculation suggesting he had been injured in a motorcycle accident.
The claim, published by Compétition.dz, prompted Bentaleb to speak out on social media. On Instagram, the 20-year-old dismissed the rumors and defended his integrity:
“Stop your nonsense a bit. (…) The Algeria technical staff is aware of the small domestic accident that I had and the coach told you about it,” said the former LOSC Lille youth product. He added that he had not been in a cast, contrary to what was suggested in reports.
While he did admit to a minor domestic accident, Bentaleb made it clear that the story circulating in the Algerian press was far from accurate and left him understandably upset.
The Fennecs will also be without Sofiane Feghouli, who joins Bentaleb on the absentee list. Coach Christian Gourcuff will have to make do without two of his key midfielders as Algeria prepare for their upcoming qualifier.
