USM Alger and Al Merreikh seize Champions League advantage.
Al Merreikh coach targets big win.
TP Mazembe and Al Hilal reach Champions League semi-finals.
Trio fight for two Champions League semi-finals spots.
Togo won their second straight 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Egypt edge back into word's top 50.
Goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi has signed for Turkish club Antalyaspor .
Holders Entente Setif are eliminated from the African Champions League.
USM Alger earned a place in the semi-finals.
Congo reach new high in Fifa rankings.
Algeria
AFRICA CUP 2015
Nations Cup appearances: 15
Best result: Winners (1990)
Coach: Christian Gourcuff (France)
Key players: Yacine Brahimi, Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani
Fifa ranking: 18
Algeria crashed out in the group phase last time around but have since climbed to the top of the African rankings and reached the World Cup knock-out stage for first time in 2014.
Attacking midfielder Yacine Brahimi is reigning BBC African Footballer of Year.