Yesli Accepts Algeria Nod For Palestinian Tune-Up

Halifax Wanderers goalkeeper Rayane Yesli has earned the nod from Algeria and will join Les Verts for the country’s upcoming international friendly series against Palestine.

While the squad selection for these two friendly bouts varies quite significantly from the primary ysquad named for Algeria’s World Cup Qualifiers against Somalia and Uganda, the lesser-profile matches are still a golden opportunity for the six-foot-seven shotstopper to impress.

Yesli, 25, has been the de facto starter since joining the Halifax Wanderers this season, earning every possible minute in 25 league appearances and tallying eight clean sheets from them. His east coast CPL side has officially clinched a playoff position, occupying the fifth spot in the league with an opportunity to snatch as high as third.

Yesli was born in northcentral Tizi Ouzou before his family immigrated to Montreal when he was two. He featured in the pro-am ranks of Ligue1 Quebec following a brief spell in Italy, taking his first steps into the CPL with Valour in 2022. He made 37 appearances through two seasons with the Winnipeg-based outfit, earning a golden glove nomination before an unexpected player swap sent him to the nation’s capital.

Flashback: Valour’s Rayane Yesli Training With AC Ajaccio

He made eleven appearances for Atletico Ottawa behind star CPL shotstopper Nathan Ingham, with Halifax securing his services this spring. The move brought the sizable shotstopper much more consistent gametime and now, it seems, the opportunity to impress at the national team level.

Algeria’s call-ups for the friendly series will will face Palestine on October 9 and October 13, while the primary squad will face Somalia on October 9 and Uganda on October 14. Algeria is top of the group after eight games played.

While Yesli would be the first-ever active CPL player to suit up for Algeria should he feature, he won’t be the first CPL-related athlete to play for them: former Cavalry full-back Mohamed Farsi has made five appearances for the side thus far.

His international call-up also opens up a big opportunity for second-choice shostopper Aiden Rushenas, who last featured in the 2024 CPL season closer against York United.

Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League