Algeria will face Côte d’Ivoire in a friendly during the October FIFA window, local media Le Buteur revealed on Saturday.
The clash against the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winners is set to take place at Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida.
According to Le Buteur, Algeria’s football association President Mohamed Raouraoua came to an agreement with his Ivoirian counterpart Sidy Diallo, with an official statement to follow.
“I want to face two top African teams,” Algeria’s head coach Christian Gourcuff stated at his latest press conference, as the ‘Fennecs’ will not be able to challenge a strong European side due to the 2016 UEFA European Championship qualifiers scheduled during this FIFA window.
The Algerians are looking at a second high-profile sparring partner for this period, with Nigeria and Senegal the favourites to fill the gap.
The two serious friendlies will serve as a preparation for the ‘Fennecs’ 2018 FIFA World Cup’s qualifying campaign, which is set to kick off in November 2015.
The Elephants defeated Christian Gourcuff’s men 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea in their last encounter.