Aïssa Mandi, pillar of the Algerian defense, is about to write a new page in the history of the Greens. The Lille player is close to surpassing Algerian football legend Islam Slimani's cap record by becoming the most capped player in the history of the national team.
Since her first call-up in November 2013, Mandi has been a model of consistency and regularity. To date, he has a total of 102 caps with Algeria, a figure which equals that of Slimani. However, his planned participation in the match against Liberia as part of the CAN 2025 qualifiers could allow him to reach the symbolic bar of 103 caps. This meeting, which will be held on the pitch of the brand new Tizi Ouzou stadium, will mark a historic moment for the 33-year-old player.
Slimani's contrasting trajectory
Islam Slimani, currently at CR Belouizdad, has not worn the Greens jersey since CAN 2023 under the orders of Djamel Belmadi. Since Vladimir Petkovic took office last March, the top scorer in Algeria's history (42 goals) has never been called up. His counter remains stuck at 102 international matchesa figure he reached during CAN 2023. This prolonged absence opened the way for Aïssa Mandi, who continues to benefit from Petkovic's total trust.
A key player for Algeria
Mandi has been a fixture since its debut. An indisputable starter, he participated in major competitions, including the 2014 World Cup and the 2019 CAN, which he won with Algeria. Under Petkovic, he established himself as a leader of the defense, being the only player to have played every game under the new era. In 102 caps, Mandi also contributed offensively with 5 goals and 3 assists.
DZfoot
