Algeria
AFRICA CUP 2015
Nations Cup appearances: 15
Best result: Winners (1990)
Coach: Christian Gourcuff (France)
Key players: Yacine Brahimi, Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani
Fifa ranking: 18
Algeria crashed out in the group phase last time around but have since climbed to the top of the African rankings and reached the World Cup knock-out stage for first time in 2014.
Attacking midfielder Yacine Brahimi is reigning BBC African Footballer of Year.
Algeria coach confident heading to Brazil - Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic is full of optimism ahead of the World Cup after his side beat Romania 2:1 in a friendly featuring a bizarre incident.
Champions League fixtures & results 24-25 May 2014
Group A
• 24.05.2014: Zamalek vs Al Hilal 2:1
• 25.05.2014: TP Mazembe vs AS Vita Club 1:0
Group B
• 24.05.2014: Al Ahli Benghazi vs Esperance 3:2
• 25.05.2014: Entente Setif vs CS Sfaxien 1:1
Esperance suffer second group defeat.
African Champions League 2014
Group A
• 24.05.2014: Zamalek vs Al Hilal 2:1
• 25.05.2014: TP Mazembe vs AS Vita Club -:-
Group B
• 24.05.2014: Al Ahli Benghazi vs Esperance 3:2
• 25.05.2014: Entente Setif vs CS Sfaxien -:-
AS Vita Club beat Zamalek in the African Champions League first group match.
On Saturday evening Esperance, who won the title in 2011, lost 2:1 to visitors Entente Setif from Algeria.
African teams participating in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
Tottenham's Nabil Bentaleb has been included in Algeria's 30-man provisional World Cup squad.
Tottenham youngster Nabil Bentaleb has the ability to become one of the stars of the Algeria team, says fellow international Adlene Guedioura.
Algerian Djamel Belmadi has been installed as the new coach of Qatar's national team, the country's football association has revealed.
All five of Africa's World Cup finalists are in action this week as they continue their preparations for this summer's tournament in Brazil.
(Algeria; Cameroon; Ghana; Côte d'Ivoire; Nigeria)
