Yassine Benzia as a retired playmaker, the two promising 22-year-old attackers Adil Boulbina and Redouane Berkane as well as the legend Yacine Brahimi. Algeria’s attacking quartet is back for the quarter-final of the Fifa Arab Cup against the United Arab Emirates, this Friday evening (kick-off 6:30 p.m., live on beIN Sports 10).
The A’ selection led by Madjid Bougherra is the reigning champion of this competition, after the coronation in 2021, already in Qatar and already with Brahimi as offensive leader. At 35, the former prodigy of Stade Rennais and FC Porto dreams of retiring internationally with a new international title, he who has been playing at Al-Gharafa since 2022. Brahimi started for the second game in a row after joining the Greens’ starting lineup during the third group match.
Adam Ounas, sent off during the first part for two yellow cards received in the space of a few minutes, remains a substitute at kick-off. Islam Slimani, another 2019 African champion, is also content with the bench alongside Youcef Atal.
Algeria for a shock against Morocco?
The Emiratis (or Emirati in English) are led by numerous naturalized players in their starting lineup: the Brazilians Marcus Meloni, Lucas Pimenta, Caio Lucas and Bruno Conceiçao, the Portuguese Ruben Amaral and the Argentinian Nicolas Giménez. Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu is the coach.
The winner of this meeting at the Al Bayt stadium (the famous Bedouin tent of the 2022 World Cup) will challenge Morocco in the semi-finals of the Arab Cup, next Monday (5:30 p.m., still on beIN Sports). The other half will pit Saudi Arabia against Jordan. Note that this competition is being played in Qatar at the same time as the Intercontinental Cup and that Flamengo and Pyramids face each other on Saturday (6:30 p.m., also on a beIN channel) to challenge PSG in the final, next Thursday.
