Okidja, Boulaya in Line to Debut for Algeria against Gambia

With their chance of ever playing for the world champions being non-existent, French-born Alexandre Oukidja and Farid Bouyala have opted to commit to Algeria at the international level.

The duo has never been invited by both countries at senior level but now look set to get their first taste of what it is like to play in a national qualifier after being freshly summoned by new Algeria gaffer Djamel Belmadi.

Plying their trade with current French Ligue 2 table-toppers Metz, the pair are the latest inclusions in a side not devoid of experience as Belmadi recalls most the team’s senior stars.

Alexandre is the more consistent of the two and is expected to provide immense competition in the race to be the Desert Foxes’ goalkeeper.

He has already started in all five games for Metz this season, conceding four in an unbeaten run spurring the Lorraine-based outfit to the table summit with fifteen points.

Farid Bouyala will get thrown in the mix more as a trialist as Djamel tries to acquaint himself with the capability of each national team player.

The full list containing invited players is yet to be released by the Algerian Football Federation but there is hope the roster will be made public this week.

Bouyala spent part of the previous term on loan at La Liga side Girona before returning to play five times this campaign.

Algeria faces Gambia on September 8^th in Banjul.