Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of their back-to-back clashes with Ethiopia in Group J of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has been ruled out of the continental meeting after sustaining an injury in Spurs U-21’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Friday, while Stade de Reims defender Aïssa Mandi remains highly doubtful after leaving the pitch with a fractured finger in his side’s 0-1 loss to EA Guingamp on Saturday.

SC Qatar centre-back Rafik Halliche and Watford midfielder Adlène Guedioura have been called up as a replacement for the injured duo, the Algerian Football Federation announced on their official website.

Gourcuff will also have to cope in the absence of Dynamo Zagreb striker Hilal Soudani, who was replaced by KV Mechelen attacking midfielder Sofiane Hanni after suffering an injury in the Croatia Cup last Wednesday.

Lying top of Group J on six points following back-to-back wins over Seychelles and Lesotho, the ‘Fennecs’ will host Ethiopia in Blida on 25 March before travelling to Addis Ababa for the reverse fixture scheduled for 29 March.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com