Algeria will be without Riyad Mahrez, Nabil Bentaleb and Islam Slimani when they lock horns with Cameroon in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier this weekend.

Algeria’s squad (back L-R) defender Rami Bensebaini, midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, defender Faouzi Ghoulam, goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi, defender Aissa Mandi, forward Islam Slimani, (L-R) forward El Arabi Soudani, defender Mokhtar Belkhiter, midfielder Adlene Guedioura, forward Riyad Mahrez and midfielder Yacine Brahimi pose for a group picture ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group B football match between Algeria and Zimbabwe in Franceville on January 15, 2017. / AFP PHOTO

This is after Algeria suffered home and away defeats against Zambia in their last qualifiers which ended their hopes of reaching next year’s finals. As a result, the Algerian Football Federation stated that they would try out new players for the last two qualifiers.

The match between Algeria and the reigning African champions Cameroon, who also saw their hopes of qualifying ending last month, will be played at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé on Saturday.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and the Desert Foxes are placed third and fourth respectively on the Group B standings.

Group leaders Nigeria will qualify if they beat Zambia in Uyo on Saturday.

Algeria squad:

Goalkeepers: Raïs M’Bolhi (Stade Rennes, France), Abdelkadir Salhi (CR Belouizdad, Algeria), Toufik Moussaoui (Paradou AC, Algeria).

Defenders: Mohamed Fares (Hellas Verona, Italy), Faouzi Ghoulam (SSC Napoli, Italy), Rami Bensebaini (Stade Rennes, France), Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis, Spain), Abdelkader Bedrane (ES Sétif, Algeria), Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaiba (Nîmes Olympique, France), Farouk Chafai (USM Alger, Algeria), Sofiane Feghouli (Galatasaray SK, Turkey), Zinedine Ferhat (Le Havre AC, France).

Midfielders: Raouf Benguit (USM Alger, Algeria), Sofiane Bendebka (MC Alger, Algeria), Saphir Taider (Bologna FC, Italy), Sofiane Daham (FC Sochaux, France).

Forwards: Hilal El Arabi Soudani (GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia), Rachid Ghezzal (AS Monaco, France), Abderrahmane Meziane (USM Alger, Algeria), Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto, Portugal), Sofiane Hanni (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium), Ishak Belfodil (SV Werder Bremen, Germany), Oussama Darfalou (USM Alger, Germany).