Algeria axe Cherrad after walkout

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ALGIERS, Algeria -- Algeria have axed France-based striker Abdelmalek Cherrad, accusing him of severe indiscipline, after he walked out before last weekend's African Nations Cup qualifier in Algiers.

The incident is the latest in a series involving the 26-year-old, who is often described as 'troubled' by officials.

The Algerian Football Federation said their disciplinary committee had found the Bastia striker guilty of "bad behavior and inadmissible infractions against the rules" ahead of Algeria's 2-0 win over the Cape Verde Islands in their Group Eight qualifier on Saturday.

Cherrad left three days before the game for reasons which were not clear, officials said. He was also involved in a highly publicized disappearance in France three years ago, which led to his sacking by Ligue 1 club Nice.

The striker went missing, together with his wife and child, for 33 days following an apparent dispute with his brothers in an incident the Nice prosecutor's office at the time described as "mysterious and worrying".

He was eventually found in Algeria and went to Belgium, but within three months was sacked by Gent after fighting with a teammate.

FIFA also banned him for four matches after he was sent off for using offensive language in a World Cup qualifier against Gabon the same year.

Cherrad, born in France, has scored seven goals in 18 international appearances since his debut for Algeria in early 2003.

Algeria lead their group at the halfway point of the qualifiers for next year's Nations Cup finals in Ghana.

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