Algeria have been boosted by the return of Himad Abdelli to full team training, although Samir Chergui missed Saturday’s session ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Niger.
The Fennecs are preparing for the final match of their international gathering after drawing 2-2 with Burundi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They will face Niger at the Hocine-Ait-Ahmed Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 on Tuesday 6 October.
The match will be Algeria’s third fixture of the camp and should give new manager Brahim Hemdani another opportunity to assess his squad and test different options.
According to DZ Foot, Abdelli took part in normal collective training at the Centre technique national de Sidi Moussa on Saturday. The Angers SCO midfielder had been affected during the trip to Burundi and worked indoors during the previous session.
His return to the group is considered an encouraging sign and increases the possibility of him featuring against Niger. Hemdani could use the friendly to continue assessing his players after the first two matches of his tenure.
There was less positive news regarding Chergui. The Paris FC defender was the only player not to take part in the collective session, which began at 18:00, according to DZ Foot.
Chergui instead completed an individual programme under the supervision of fitness coach Nasser Daineche. No official announcement has been made confirming his withdrawal, but his participation in the friendly is now in doubt.
The defender faced difficulties during the match against Burundi, where he was beaten by Jean-Claude Girumugisha’s dribbling. His progress will be monitored during Algeria’s final training session before the game.
Tuesday’s meeting with Niger will be the final fixture of the current gathering. It is expected to provide Hemdani with the chance to give playing time to several squad members who have so far had limited involvement.
