Mounsef Bakrar called up to Algeria national team

New York City FC striker Mounsef Bakrar has been called up to the Algeria national football team, and will join Les Fennecs for the March international break.

This is the first Senior Team call-up for the 23-year-old. Algeria are currently ranked #43 in the world by FIFA.

Algeria will play two friendlies during the international break. First, they will host Bolivia at the Stade Nelson Mandela outside Algiers on Friday, March 22 at 5 pm ET. Then they will play a South Africa that impressed many by finishing third at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, March 26 at 5 pm ET, also at the Stade Nelson Mandela.

Bakrar will be one of 11 forwards in camp with Algeria during this March window, vying for playing time against some high-profile players from top European leagues.

Perhaps Bakrar will pick some goal-scoring magic up from training alongside Mohamed El Amine Amoura, who has scored 17 goals for a Union Saint-Gilloise squad that currently stips atop Belgium's Jupiler Pro League.

Bakrar joined New York City last July, and has four goals in 16 appearances in all competitions. Bakrar scored in his second game for the club, when NYCFC thrashed Toronto FC by the score of 5-0 in the 2023 Leagues Cup. The two teams will face each other again tomorrow, when Toronto travels to The Bronx to face New York City at Yankee Soccer Stadium.

Bakrar started in all three of New York City's league games so far this season, but has yet to score.

He is the fourth New York City player to be called up in this international window. Right-back Tayvon Gray will join the Jamaica national football in Texas team when they face the United States national men's team in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals on Thursday, March 21 at 7 pm ET. Right-back Mitja Ilenič will join the Slovenia U-21 team as they attempt to advance out of the group stage in the Euro U-21 qualifications. And goalkeeper Tomás Romero will join El Salvador for three friendlies.

All four players will miss New York City's game on March 23, when they play FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium.