Problems for Algeria in defence

Algeria face a problem at left-back as they prepare to take on Botswana in their World Cup qualifier on Thursday, hoping to secure victory in Tizi-Ouzou and move a step closer to qualifying for next year’s finals in North America.

Jaouen Hadjam left the squad on Wednesday, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) announced, and sits out the clash at the Hocine-Aït-Ahmed Stadium.

The 22-year-old was expected to feature at left-back against Botswana’s Zebras but was given the green light by coach Vladimir Petkovic to leave "for family reasons." He will return to the squad on Friday for the trip to Casablanca, Morocco, to face Guinea in their next Group G match on Monday.

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Hadja, who plays for Swiss club Young Boys Berne, had been earmarked to take the place in the starting line-up of Rayan Aït-Nouri, who was injured while playing for Manchester City.

Now it is expected that Chabab Belouizdad, who backs Naoufel Khacef, a quarterfinalist at the Chan last month, will play in the position or that centre-back Ramy Bensebaïni shifts over.

Bensebaïni competes for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga either on the left side of defence or at centre-back.

Algeria lead the group standings by three points from Mozambique with Botswana a further three points adrift.