The 27-year-old defender has not played for his Ligue 1 side Nice since mid-October, when he caused an uproar by posting a video of a Palestinian preacher allegedly threatening Israel with a "black day", according to AFP.

Atal shared the video on his Instagram account, which has 3.2 million followers, shortly after Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October, killing 1,139 people.

He quickly deleted the post and apologised, but was suspended by his club while prosecutors investigate the incident on suspicion of "justifying terrorism".

But after watching the video and questioning the player, they dropped the charges and instead charged him with "inciting religious hatred".

Atal was handed a seven-match ban by a disciplinary committee of the French Professional Football League, but has played in Algeria's last three international matches.

There is no place in the squad, however, for West Ham striker Said Benrahma, who was left out in the cold after a furious row with Belmadi when he came on as a substitute in the friendly against Egypt in October.

Belmadi has kept faith with several of the key players from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners. Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez, one of several ageing stars to move to Saudi Arabia, Islam Slimani, who at 35 is plying his trade in Brazil, and AC Milan's Ismael Bennacer, make up the squad.

Algeria have been drawn in Group D alongside Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The biennial tournament is being hosted by Ivory Coast and runs from 13 January to 11 February.