Player profile

Chaouchi performed superbly in the World Cup play-off win over Egypt when he deputised for the suspended Lounes Gaouaoui.

However, he is banned for the first two group matches at the World Cup after aiming a head-butt at referee Bonaventure Coffi Codjia following the award of a penalty to the Egyptians during this year’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final. The referee, astonishingly, only booked the goalkeeper but later sent him off for a second yellow card, and the African Football Confederation imposed a three-match ban.

Chaouchi had only kept his place for the Africa Cup of Nations because first-choice Gaouaoui was injured. He was culpable for two of the goals in the opening 3-0 loss to 99th-ranked Malawi: his poor clearance led to the first goal and he fumbled a shot in the build-up to the third.

He has spent his entire career in Algeria, winning the domestic cup this year in his debut season with ES Setif. He claims to have been in contact with Marseille and Le Mans over a possible summer transfer.