Algeria coach fears Iwobi, Iheanacho, Musa

Newly appointed Algeria Coach Georges Leekens has said that Super Eagles strikers’ trio of Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester’s Ahmed Musa and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi will be tough to curtail when both countries battle in a World Cup qualifiers on November 12 in Uyo.

Nigeria top Group B of African qualifying with three points, while both Algeria and Cameroon have one each, with Zambia pointless but the 67-year-old said Algeria can still pick the sole ticket for Russia 2018 World Cup.

“Have you seen Nigeria’s attack? They have Musa, Iwobi and Iheanacho. They are world class players. You need special drills to stop them and that we plan to do when we meet next month,” Leekens said during first press conference in Algiers on Tuesday.

Read also: Algeria coach invites Mahrez, Slimani, 16 others for Nigeria match

He added that, “I will ask my players to play the Algerian way. They will play that way. Not just with technique, but with their heart.

“I don’t like dribbling for dribbling’s sake. I like vertical play. Everyone has to defend. Everyone must run 10m. That’s not a lot. Playing without the ball is important.”

On his squad list released on Tuesday, Leekens said, “I’ve released a list of 18 players who play abroad. Then we’ll complete it. I don’t want to hear local players, overseas-based players. There are only Algerian players.”

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