Algeria include undecided Belfodil

Algeria have named Parma striker Ishak Belfodil in their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals despite concerns that he does not want to play in the tournament.

Belfodil, who has sent out mixed messages about playing in the three-week tournament in South Africa, was part of a 24-man selection named by the Algerian Football Federation on Tuesday.

He changed his footballing nationality to Algeria, after playing for France at junior level, but then turned down recent call-ups from the coach Vahid Halilhodzic.

The squad will have to be cut by one by January 9. The north Africans begin their Group D campaign against neighbours Tunisia in Rustenburg on January 22 before playing Ivory Coast and Togo in the first stage of the competition.

Halilhodzic has included uncapped French-born defender Faouzi Ghoulam, who has had an impressive season in Ligue 1 with St Etienne, after persuading him in recent weeks to play for Algeria.

There is no place in the squad for striker Rafik Djebbour of Greek champions Olympiakos Piraeus or former captain Madjid Bougherra. 

Nine members of the squad were also part of the 23-man selection for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Azzeddine Doukha (USM Harrach), Rais Mbolhi (Kryla Sovetov Samara), Cedric Si Mohammed (JSM Bejaia)

Defenders:
Essaid Belkalem (JS Kabylie), Liassine Cadamuro (Real Sociedad), Faouzi Ghoulam (St Etienne), Rafik Halliche (Academica Coimbra), Carl Medjani (AC Ajaccio), Djamel Mesbah (AC Milan), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio), Ali Rial (JS Kabylie)

Midfielders:
Djamel Abdoun (Olympiakos), Hameur Bouazza (Real Santander), Ryad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Adlene Guedioura (Nottingham Forest), Foued Kadir (Valenciennes), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Khaled Lemmouchia (Club Africain), Saad Tedjar (USM Alger)

Forwards:
Hilal Soudani (Vitoria Guimaraes), Islam Slimani (Chabab Belouizdad), Mohamed Amine Aoudia (Entente Setif), Ishak Belfodil (Parma).