Algeria Concerned as Mbolhi Faces AFCON Doubt Due to Lack of Game Time
Algeria’s preparations for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations have been dealt a potential blow, with first-choice goalkeeper Raïs Mbolhi at risk of missing the tournament due to inactivity at club level.
Mbolhi, one of the standout performers for the Fennecs during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has not played competitive football in recent weeks. The American Major League Soccer season, where he features for Philadelphia Union, has concluded and will not resume until March — a full month after the AFCON tournament in Equatorial Guinea wraps up.
The Algerian shot-stopper already missed the final two qualifying fixtures for the national team, and the lack of playing time could jeopardize his place in coach Christian Gourcuff’s plans for the continental showpiece in January and February.
Despite his absence from competitive matches, Mbolhi is reportedly committed to maintaining his fitness. He is currently based in Paris, where he is following a tailored training regimen developed by his personal fitness coach — someone with whom he has worked closely in the past. This routine is designed to keep him in peak physical condition, even in the absence of club-level matches.
The Algerian coaching staff is said to be monitoring his situation closely. The national team’s goalkeeping coach is expected to visit Mbolhi periodically in Paris to assess his form and ensure he remains on track. Although Mbolhi has been through similar situations before — often without a stable club — the current circumstances are raising fresh concerns ahead of a tournament in which Algeria will be seen as one of the favourites.
Should he fail to reach the required level of match fitness, coach Gourcuff may be forced to consider alternatives in goal — a scenario that could significantly impact the team’s defensive stability.
For now, Algeria hopes that Mbolhi’s professionalism and dedication off the pitch will compensate for the lack of competitive rhythm, but the clock is ticking as AFCON 2015 looms large.
