Algeria’s Taoder out of Cup of Nations

Algiers: Algerian midfielder Saphir Taoder has been ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations with a recurring knee injury and will be replaced by Ismail Bennacer.

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) said 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder Bennacer will arrive in Algiers on Thursday before flying to Gabon for their tournament opener on Sunday against Zimbabwe.

Taoder aggravated a previous injury during training with defender Ramy Bensebaini also nursing a niggling knee problem.

Algeria are drawn in Group B with Tunisia, Senegal and Zimbabwe, with the top two advancing to the quarter-finals.