Delort in Algeria squad for AFCON 2019

Algeria manager Djamel Belmadi has selected Montpellier striker Andy Delort for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as a replacement for Haris Belkebla.

Belkebla was sent home by Belmadi, leaving an extra space in the squad for the Desert Foxes. Delort qualifies for Algeria through his mother, and has the green light for all of his nationality paperwork with FIFA so he is officially available for selection.

He scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in last season’s Ligue 1 and just signed a new deal with Montpellier to extend his time at the French club. He has never played for the French national team, and is officially an Algerian player now.

Delort has never been capped for Algeria before, same with Belkebla, and could feature in Sunday’s international friendly against Mali in the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar. He will wear the number 15 shirt for the Desert Foxes.

This is brilliant news for Algeria and boosts their chances of winning AFCON 2019 in Egypt this suumer.

Saphir Taider and Mohamed Benkhemassa were the other names linked with a potential call-up, and logically made more sense to replace one central midfielder with another. Follow Algeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in English this summer.