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Algeria will defend an 18-game unbeaten streak when Africa’s top teams return to action this week after 10 months of inactivity due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The reigning African champions will face Nigeria in Austria on October 9 and Mexico in the Netherlands on October 13 before the November resumption of qualification for the 2021 Nations Cup.
Algeria is among 18 of the top 20 ranked countries on the continent that will play one or two international friendly matches, many of which will be played in Europe.
The Desert Foxes, who defeated Senegal in Cairo last July to become African champions for the second time, last lost in October 2018, outside of Benin.
They have won 15 competitive and friendly matches and drawn three since then, with victories including a Colombian win in France.
Nations Cup winning coach Djamel Belmadi has summoned 24 stars with Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez as captain and talisman.
The match against Nigeria is a replay of a dramatic 2019 Nations Cup semi-final won by a Mahrez free kick in injury time.
Algeria then beat Senegal 1-0 in the final thanks to an early goal from Qatar-based Bagdad Bounedjah, who is also part of the squad for friendlies.
Nigeria also play twice, and face another powerful North African team, Tunisia, in Austria four days after facing the Algerians.
The game with Tunisia is also a repeat of a 2019 Nations Cup encounter with Nigeria winning the playoff for third place 1-0 thanks to a goal from Odion Ighalo.
Ighalo, a 31-year-old forward on loan to Manchester United from Shanghai Shenhua until January 31, was not chosen by German coach Gernot Rohr for this international window.
Ndidi is lost
The injured Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is also missing, but four other English Premier League players were called up.
Rohr selected defenders Olaoluwa Aina from Fulham and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi from West Bromwich Albion and attackers Alex Iwobi from Everton and Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester.
A Tunisian team that includes only champion Esperance’s goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia will host Sudan at Rades four days before taking on the Nigerians.
Ivory Coast have opted for non-African opponents, Belgium in Brussels on October 8 and Japan in Utrecht on October 13, in their first matches with French coach Patrice Beaumelle.
Ranked only 12th in Africa after a surprising Nations Cup qualifying defeat to Ethiopia last November, the Ivorians hope to justify the praise given them by Belgian coach Roberto Martinez.
“The Ivory Coast is a team with many very talented people, including Wilfried Zaha and Nicolas Pepe,” said the man who has elevated the Belgians to the top of the world rankings.
Beaumelle, a longtime assistant to high-profile French manager Herve Renard, has recalled a series of Ivorians discarded by previous Elephants managers.
Midfielder Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro is back after a four-year absence, winger Gervinho returns after three years and midfielder Geoffrey Serey Die comes out of retirement.
Senegal, the top-ranked African country, takes on Morocco at home and hosts Mauritania without its superstar, Liverpool sniper Sadio Mane, who has tested positive for Covid-19.
Two other Senegalese with English Premier League clubs, recently hired Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Crystal Palace defender / midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, are available.
