Our pre-AFCON series rolls on today with a closer look at some of the key players from Algeria to have graced the pitches of Ligue 1. While some of the country’s most famous players (Sofiane Feghouli, Riyad Mahrez) never played in France’s top flight, it’s hard to imagine Les Fennecs having the same level of success without these stars.
Djamel Belmadi Paris Saint-Germain 1995-96, Olympique de Marseille 1999-2002, Valenciennes FC 2007-09
The current coach of the two-time AFCON champions (1990, 2019) was born outside of Paris and got his start with the capital side. After playing sparingly there, he spent time in the lower divisions with Martigues and Cannes before returning to Ligue 1 with Marseille, where was a regular in midfield before finishing his career with Valenciennes.
Islam Slimani AS Monaco 2019-20, Olympique Lyonnais 2021-22 Stade Brestois 29 2022-23
His country’s all-time leading scorer, Slimani was a late-bloomer, not playing in European football until the age of 25. After impressing in Portugal with Sporting Club, he moved to England before spending time with three different clubs in France. Despite a productive spell on loan at Monaco, his return to Ligue 1 with first Lyon and then Brest was less fruitful and he now plays his club football with Brazilian side Coritiba.
Aissa Mandi Stade de Reims 2012-2016
A pure product of the Stade de Reims academy, Mandi joined the Champagne side at the age of nine, and helped them win a pair of promotions, rising from the third division to Ligue 1. After a successful spell with the club in the top flight, he continued his career in Spain, where he plays today for Villarreal. His country’s most-capped defender, he helped Algeria reach the knockout rounds of the 2014 World Cup and win the AFCON title in 2019.
🦁 ©️𝓐𝓟𝓣𝓐𝓘𝓝 𝓗𝓞𝓤𝓢𝓢𝓔𝓜 ⚡#FCLOL pic.twitter.com/Lzkk4axDDu
— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) March 4, 2022
Houssem Aouar Olympique Lyonnais 2016-2023
The Lyon-born midfielder, now playing for AS Roma, only declared for Algeria this year, having made a solitary appearance for France in 2020. He’s already made a positive impact for his country, netting twice against Cape Verde as Algeria are yet to lose with him in the team.
Yacine Brahimi Stade Rennais 2010-12
Now playing for Qatari side Al-Gharafa, Brahimi was one of the first of a brilliant generation of attacking talent to impress in Europe. Despite having grown up in Paris, he came through Rennes’ academy and impressed for the Breton side before sealing his star status in Portugal with Porto.
