Aïssa Mandi celebrated a milestone in her career this Thursday evening: her 100th cap with the Algerian national team, during the 5-1 victory against Togo. This match now places him as the second most capped player in the history of the Algerian selection, tied with Lekhdar Belloumi, and just behind Islam Slimani, who has 101 caps. Slimani also celebrated this milestone last January in Ivory Coast, during a match against Burkina Faso during the African Cup of Nations.
Mandiwho has proudly worn the national jersey for over a decade, made his first appearance for the national team on 5 mars 2014during a friendly match against the Slovenia at the stadium Mustapha Tchaker of Blida. At the time, theAlgeria was led by Vahid Halilhodžić. Since that day, the defender has established himself as a key piece of the Algerian defense, and his name is still on the call-up list, despite the different coaches who have taken the reins of the team.
Recognized for his seriousness, professionalism and humility, Mandi played a crucial role in the coronation of theAlgeria during the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. His commitment and consistency make him a model for young players and a source of inspiration for an entire generation of footballers.
With 100 caps (5 goals and 3 assists) to his credit, Mandi is now on track to become the national team’s most capped player, surpassing Islam Slimani. The latter, excluded from the plans of the current coach Vladimir Petkovic for several months, has left the door open to Mandi to take the lead in this prestigious ranking.
