AFCON 2019: Ghoulam’s Blow to Algeria

Algeria’s Djamel Belmadi will have to do without Faouzi Ghoulam for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations who had ruled himself out for the tournament.

The defender is a consistent player for Italy Serie A giants Napoli but has asked to be excluded from the tournament.

The 28-year-old began playing in the second phase of the league, making eleven straight starts out of fifteen cameos following a battle with injuries.

Ghoulam had to be excused in a couple of qualifiers for Algeria as Belmadi allowed for the player’s quick recuperation and return to consistent playing form.

But despite attaining that now, the Desert Foxes’ tactician had anticipated seeing the experienced centre-back make the flight to Egypt only to be reached out to by the player, demanding to be excluded, reports say.

It’s unclear what Belmadi makes of the news as Algeria face tough schedules in Group C with Senegal and minnows Kenya and Tanzania all in contention.