Rayan Ait-Nouri made his senior international debut on Thursday evening as the left-back helped Algeria to a 2-1 win over Niger in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The former French youth player switched allegiances to the country of his descent earlier this year, making him eligible for ‘The Greens’ in time for their March internationals.
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 during the past two days involving Julen Lopetegui’s players.
Rayan Ait-Nouri | Algeria 2-1 Niger
As a full-back who likes to get forward, Ait-Nouri was entrusted in a more defensive role in his first ever start for Algeria as one of just three defenders selected by had coach Djamel Belmadi for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with Niger in Algiers. But that didn’t stop him from being a key threat down the left side for his country, as his crosses into the box almost led to an opening goal. Ait-Nouri played the whole 90 minutes for his side, who had to battle from behind having conceded just before the break. But they did just about enough to secure the three points and maintain their lead at the top of their qualifying group after Man City’s Riyad Mahrez scored the winner with just three minutes remaining. The teams will go head-to-head once again – this time in Niger – on Monday (5pm kick-off).
Nathan Collins | Republic of Ireland 3-2 Latvia
A regular in the Irish defence in recent seasons, Collins was the man in the middle of a back three for his country on Wednesday evening as the Republic of Ireland faced Latvia in a friendly fixture at the Aviva Stadium. The hosts made a quick start to the match, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes, but Latvia halved the deficit through a superb strike which Collins and his teammates could do nothing about. But the visitors were on level terms moments before the break as a shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off the Wolves defender to send the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher in the Ireland goal. Playing the entire 90 minutes, Collins and Ireland were celebrating come full-time as they got the only goal of the second-half to claim victory, ahead of a difficult Euro 2024 qualification match with France on Monday evening (7.45pm).
Jose Sa, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes | Portugal 4-0 Liechtenstein
A first game in charge of Portugal for Roberto Martinez saw the former Swansea, Wigan and Everton manager leave all three of the Wolves players at his disposal out of the starting line-up for their 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Liechtenstein. The old, old gold goalkeeper Rui Patricio was favoured over his incumbent Sa between the sticks in Lisbon, Neves had to settle for a place on the bench, while Nunes was one of two players called up by Martinez to not be named in Thursday night’s 23-strong squad. Neves did see some action off the bench, replacing Danilo Pereira on 67 minutes when his country were already four goals to the good. Sa is still waiting to make his senior international debut, and it could come on Sunday (7.45pm) as Portugal’s qualification campaign continues away in Luxembourg.
Raul Jimenez | Suriname 0-2 Mexico
A new manager was also in charge of Mexico last night as Diego Cocca took his first game as head coach of El Tri in their CONCACAF Nations League fixture with Suriname, but Jimenez was among several senior Mexico players – including Guillermo Ochoa, Jesus Gallardo, Edson Alvarez and Hirving Lozano – who were left out of the team for the 2-0 win. Despite earning victory, Jimenez’s replacement in the number nine shirt, Santiago Gimenez, missed a penalty on 68 minutes when his country were just one goal up, but a late own goal secured all three points. Mexico remain at the top of the League A, Group A table with seven points from their opening three fixtures, and Jimenez will hope to be involved on Monday (2am) as his country face Dexter Lembikisa’s Jamaica, who sit just two points behind in second place.
Coming up…
Joao Gomes will hope to make his international debut this weekend as Brazil face Morocco in a friendly on Saturday, while Pedro Neto and Portugal under-21s face a friendly against Romania from 5pm today, before Joe Hodge’s Republic of Ireland under-21s take on Iceland in a friendly on Sunday (4pm).
