Rayan Ait-Nouri returned to the international fold this week to help Algeria top their qualification group for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
With a place in the finals already guaranteed for the Greens, the left-back was brought back into the side having missed out on an international call-up during the summer to start the goalless draw against Tanzania which ensured his country would end their qualification campaign without defeat.
Several of Ait-Nouri’s club teammates have also been called up for their countries this week, and wolves.co.uk rounds up the action which took place last night, as well as preview this evening’s fixtures.
Rayan Ait-Nouri | Algeria 0-0 Tanzania
Although wearing the same number for his country as he does for his club, Wolves’ number three spent more time in the Tanzania half than he did on defensive duty on his return to the Algeria side on Thursday night. Winning his second senior cap after switching his allegiances to Algeria earlier this year, the former France youth international was in from the start against the Taifa Stars – who knew avoiding defeat against Ait-Nouri’s side would be enough for them to seal second place in qualification Group F and a place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast. Playing the whole 90 minutes, Ait-Nouri made several trademark runs down the left and also put balls into the box which were not converted as Algeria were frustrated by a dogged and resolute Tanzania side. The left-back will hope to be back in action for his country again on Tuesday (12th September, 8pm) as Algeria take on Senegal in a friendly.
Hee Chan Hwang & Tom King | Wales 0-0 South Korea
Two Wolves players were in the opposite camps on Thursday night, as both Hee Chan Hwang and Tom King were named on the bench for South Korea and Wales respectively for a friendly match in Cardiff. There was little goalmouth action to excite a half-empty stadium before the break, and with the game goalless heading into the final half an hour Wolves’ Korean forward was called into the action, although there would be no international debut this time for the Old Gold goalkeeper. Hwang is currently being brought back to full fitness gradually after a hamstring injury forced him off at half-time in the win against Everton a fortnight ago, but having come off the bench to equalise against Crystal Palace at the weekend, he would have been hoping for more of the same in Cardiff, yet it wasn’t to be for Hwang as he was unable to force an impact on the proceedings. Hwang will aim for more minutes under his belt as Korea take on Saudi Arabia in Newcastle on Tuesday (12th September, 5.30pm), while King will be among the Wales squad once again for their Euro 2024 qualifier against Latvia on Monday (11th September, 7.45pm).
Matt Doherty | France 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Following his red card against Greece in the June internationals, Matt Doherty had already served his one-match suspension, but the Wolves right-back saw his ban extended to two games following a recent meeting of UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Board, which meant he was unable to play in the Republic of Ireland’s two-goal defeat to France in the Euro 2024 qualifiers last night. The decision to extend Doherty’s absence was blasted by Ireland manager Stephen Kelly who called the ruling ‘incredibly harsh’, adding: “I was really disappointed with that.” Not having the right-back’s services didn’t help the Boys in Green, who fell to a comfortable defeat against the French. However, Doherty will be back available for Ireland’s next Euro qualifier on Sunday (10th September, 7.45pm) as they take on the Netherlands in a crucial clash at the Aviva Stadium. Ireland currently sit fourth in the group, but just three points behind the Dutch who occupy second spot.
Coming up…
Wolves’ remaining internationals will all be hoping to see action on the pitch during the next few days. Tonight will see the Portugal quartet of Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Toti and Pedro Neto take on Slovakia in a Euro 2024 qualifier from 5.30pm, while summer signing Santi Bueno and his Uruguay side face Chile in their first 2026 World Cup qualification fixture from midnight, and Matheus Cunha is back with Brazil for their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia at 1.45am.
Wolves will hope to have two players in international youth action this evening as Fabio Silva and the Portugal under-21s face Andorra from 5.30pm, while Hugo Bueno could earn his first Spanish under-21 cap against Malta from 7.45pm.
Mario Lemina is the remaining Wolves player who is currently away with his national team, with Gabon playing just one international match during September as they take on Mauritania from 5pm on Saturday (9th September), knowing they will require all three points if they are to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
