In the 1980s Algeria's Desert Warriors could be counted amongst the best in African football, participating in every Nations Cup and winning it as hosts in 1990.

Since then, the best Algeria have been able to manage was a quarter-final defeat at South Africa '96.

Many of the team's problems can be put down to a lack of continuity amongst those organising Algerian football.

National team players have not been able to settle down, as the coach and officials have been frequently changed.

Captain Moosa Saib is very frank about these difficulties, and he hopes only that his team mates will be determined enough to overcome them.

The 31-year-old veteran midfielder plays for Saudi Arabian club, Al Nasr, and is one of nine foreign-based players named by coach Nasser Sandjak.

He used to play for English club Tottenham Hotspur.

Saib and fellow midfielder Mahieddine Meftah survive from the Algerian squad which won the Nations Cup in 1990.

Coach Sandjak surprisingly ommitted French-based players Salem Harcheche and Karim Kerkar, who had accompanied the side on a training trip to Brazil.

And that trip went far from smoothly with a humiliating 7-0 defeat at the hands of a Romario-inspired Vasco de Gama, warming up for the world championships.

Algeria squad
		Coach: Nasser Sandjak, France
		Abdesslam Benabdellah	Mouloudia Oran
		Maamar Mamouni	Le Havre, France
		Abdelaziz Benhamlat	JS Kabylie
		Rezki Amrouche	Club Africain, Tunisia
		Mounir Zeghdoud	USM Alger
		Yacine Amaouche	JSM Bejaoa
		Nasreddine Kraouche	Metz, France
		Billel Dziri	Sedan, France
		Farid Ghazi	Troyes, France
		Abdelhafid Tasfaout	Guingamp, France
		Fawzi Moussouni	JS Kabylie
		Yacine Slatni	JS Kabylie
		Moulay Haddou	Mouloudia Oran
		Faycal Badji	CR Belouizdad
		Rafik Saofi	Troyes, France
		Aomar Hamened	Mouloudia Alger
		Brahim Mezouar	CR Belouizdad
		Moussa Saib	Al Nasr, Saudi Arabia
		Ali Mecabih	Mouloudia Oran
		Meftah Mahieddine	USM Alger
		Hamid Merakchi	Genclerbirligi, Turkey
		Lamine Bougherara	JS Kabylie