World Cup 2010

Algerian Coach Counting On Portsmouth's Hassan Yebda

Rabah Saadane will reportedly call-up the midfielder for the Fennecs’ upcoming qualifier.

Sep 11, 2009 1:48:06 AM

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Algerian national team coach Rabah Saadane has told Francefootball.fr that he plans on calling up Hassan Yebda for his side’s next World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda, which will be played at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida next month.

The coach explained that he hadn't done so earlier because he wanted to give the player time to find a new club, but now that he has landed at Portsmouth on loan, it seems as if the time is right. Furthermore, Yazid Mansouri, the Algerian team’s captain, will be suspended for the encounter and must be replaced.

“We’re going to contact Hassan Yebda next week by phone. We let him prepare his move from Benfica to Portsmouth in serenity. Now that it’s done, he’ll be part of the 22 players I select for our match on the 10th of October against Rwanda, as long as nothing unexpected occurs,” he explained.

Yebda will become the second player after Mourad Meghni in the squad to benefit from FIFA’s rule change regarding the ability of player to switch national team allegiances even after having turned 21.

Rami Ayari, Goal.com