Real Racing Club de Santander’s midfielder Mehdi Lehcene is lingering on joining the Algerian national football team because he prefers to play for France, according to a sports magazine.

• Mehdi Lehcene could have replied to Algerian coach Rabeh Saadane’s invitation to play for his team starting from February 8, said France Football on Saturday.
• He preferred to not immediately answer for causes many see they are unconvincing, said the same magazine.
• The same sou...

Algerian football team’s coach Rabah Saadan presented Saturday the 24 players who will begin hard training on the 8th February in order to be ready for the friendly match against Benin football team.

•  It seems that Internationals Hamdani and Mouniri as well as ESSetif strikers Souguer and Himani will not play with their Algerian team-mates. Saadani called for Hadj Issa, Meiza, and Internationals Bouazza, Djebboure and Karim Ziani in order to participate in the...

West Ham has asked about the Algerian international Antar Yahia as manager Gianfranco Zola looks to strengthen his resources in defence, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

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• Yahia, Bochum's centre half has been in Germany for a year and caught the eye after his debut against Bayern Munich, said the English newspaper.
• “His ability to spring in the air has spawned some vital goals and he has over 30 caps for Algeria.
  

Rangers forgotten man Brahim Hemdani last night dismissed the SPL as boring -but revealed he's holding out for a summer move to Spain.

Gers are desperate to offload the £16.000 -a-week midfielder whose last appearance was in the UEFA Cup Final eight months ago.

• With his contract up in June, the former Marseille skipper is free to talk to other clubs. But Hemdani is adamant he is no rush to leave Ibrox during the current transfer window.
• The 30-year-old Algerian insis...

Rabeh Saadane

Algeria’s national football coach Rabeh Saadane is expected to hold a meeting with his staff on Tuesday to make a list of the names due to play against Benin in a friendly match in Algeria on February11.

• Saadane could select most of the elements who played against Mali in a friendly match in France last November.
• Saadane may also select AEK Athens’ striker Rafik Djebbour while Brahim Hamdani, Glasgow Rangers midfielder may not be selected bec...

Algerian football team

There has been no change at the FIFA ranking of Algeria this month as it kept the 64th place while Spain, Holland and Germany have occupied the top spots.

• Egypt advanced from 16 to 15 while it ranked second in Africa after Cameron which stayed at 14. Nigeria also moved up from 19 to 17.
• The top 14: Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Croatia, England, Russia, Turkey, France, Portugal, Czech Republic and Cameroon stayed ...