Ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Nigeria next month in Uyo, the Algerian Football Federation are in search of a top defender to strengthen the national team after the back-line struggled in their opener against Cameroon. <br /><br />Le Buteur is reporting that the Federation have beamed their searchlight on footballers playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, and have planned a get-together for the invited players in the coming days. <br /><br /><span class="notranslate" style="">USM Algiers star Mohamed Benyahia , a former Algeria U17 international, is one of the candidates being considered in defense along with Mohamed Khoutir Ziti of ES S&eacute;tif, who could replace </span><span class="notranslate" style="">Mehdi Zeffane in the roster for the Nigeria clash.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Morocco manager </span><span class="notranslate" style="">Herv&eacute; Renard, who has been courted by Nigeria in the past, is the latest name linked with the vacant Desert Foxes job to offset the departure of Milovan Rajevac. <br /><br />Algeria have qualified for the World Cup on four occasions while their next opponents Nigeria have attended five of the last six editions of football</span><span class="notranslate" style="">&rsquo;s showpiece event. <br /><br />Ifeanyi Emmanuel&nbsp; <br /></span><br />