Algeria coming early to Afcon
Algeria will be among the first sides to arrive for the African Nations Cup finals, having set January 4 as the date for their arrival in South Africa for the tournament.
It is 18 days ahead of their first match in Group D where they will kick off their campaign against neighbours Tunisia in Rustenburg.
The Algerian Football Federation said they would assemble their squad on January 2 for two days of tests at their technical centre at Sidi Moussa.
They will then travel on a special charter plane directly to South Africa to arrive on January 4.
This is five days before they finalise their squad of 23 so are expected to come with extra players as they hold off until the last moment to check on the availability of squad members with injury doubts, coach Vahid Halilhodzic said.
Algeria, who lost at home on Wednesday in a warm-up friendly with Bosnia, are set to take residence at KwaMaritane near Sun City, but officially only move in on the 16th.
On their schedule is a friendly against Bafana Bafana on January 12. The venue will be in Gauteng but has yet to be confirmed by the South African Football Association.
They also hope to play against a club side on either January 17 or 18.
Algeria’s other two Group D matches are against Togo on January 26 and Ivory Coast on January 30, also at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
