Rayan Ait-Nouri produced an impressive display at left-back for Algeria as his country ran out 5-1 winners over Togo in their latest Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The full-back – who has the most goal involvements of any defender in the Premier League so far this season, despite Wolves’ difficult start to the campaign – has struggled to replicate his club form at international level previously, but on Thursday evening, he shone down the left alongside Said Benrahma as the pair terrorised the Togo defence.
Despite falling behind inside the opening quarter of an hour, Algeria fought back and quickly turned the game on its head, before running out comfortable winners, with Ait-Nouri playing the entire 90 minutes and ending the game as the second highest rated player in his side after the Lyon winger.
With the three points in the bag, Algeria extended their lead at the top of AFCON qualifying Group E, thanks to nine points from their opening three matches, and another game against Togo – this time away from home – coming up on Monday evening.
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— Équipe d'Algérie de football (@LesVerts) October 10, 2024
🇩🇿 🆚🇹🇬#LesVerts⭐⭐ | #123vivalAlgérie🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/wroeFQXQKk
Two other members of Gary O’Neil’s first-team started for their countries on Thursday, as Hee Chan Hwang was in World Cup qualification with South Korea out in Jordan, and Andre was competing for a place at the 2026 competition with Brazil. However, it wasn’t a happy afternoon for the Korean forward after he was withdrawn from the game just after the 20-minute mark through injury.
Hwang’s country went on to win the match 2-0 and moved to the top of AFC qualifying Group B – level on points with Iraq, who they face next, but with a greater goal difference – but it is yet to be seen if he will be fit for South Korea’s vital qualifier in Yongin on Tuesday.
Andre played the opening half for Brazil in their crucial 2-1 victory over Chile. After struggling in World Cup qualification so far this campaign, Brazil were in dire need for three points, but they might have thought it would be another difficult evening after falling behind in the second minute.
However, Igor Jesus’ goal on the stroke of half-time was added to by a Luiz Henrique effort in the final moments of the game to lift Brazil up to fourth in the CONMEBOL standings.
Wolves’ only European-based player in action yesterday was Jorgen Strand Larsen, as the striker came on in the second half of Norway’s comfortable 3-0 Nations League win over Slovenia, replacing Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth to join Erling Haaland up front for the final 15 minutes of the contest.
The win puts Norway top of League B, Group 3 on seven points, three ahead of second place Austria, who Strand Larsen will be hoping to face on Sunday evening.
Wolves’ other internationals will be in action over the coming days, with captain Mario Lemina out with Gabon in Franceville for an AFCON qualifier against Lesotho from 8pm this evening, while Rodrigo Gomes and Carlos Forbs will hope to be part of the Portugal under-21 team taking on the Faroe Islands in U21 Euro qualification from 4pm this afternoon.
While Nelson Semedo and Portugal are taking on Poland in Warsaw on Saturday (12th October), with Santi Bueno and Uruguay traveling to Peru on the same evening.
