ALBION defender Leon Balogun is poised for another watching brief against Riyad Mahrez and Algeria in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr is expected to keep faith again with Chelsea’s Kenneth Omerou and Udinese’s William Troost-Ekong in Cairo tomorrow night (8pm), with Balogun among the substitutes.

Youcef Atal is doubtful after going off in the quarter-final against Ivory Coast with a shoulder injury, but Mehdi Zeffane is likely to take his place at right-back rather than the versatile Balogun.

Nigeria qualified at Algeria’s expense for last summer’s World Cup finals in Russia after an embarrassing blunder. They were already through when the west African rivals shared a 1-1 draw.

FIFA subsequently awarded a 3-0 victory to Algeria and fined the Nigeria Football Federation for fielding Abdullahi Shehu. He was ineligible through suspension for two cautions.

Algeria edged past Ivory Coast 4-3 on penalties in the quarter-finals, former Swansea, Manchester City and Stoke striker Wilfried Bony missing in the shoot-out.

Nigeria and Algeria will know the identity of their potential final opponents before they kick-off. Liverpool striker Sadio Mane leads Senegal in the other semi-final on Sunday against Tunisia (5pm).

The final takes place next Friday (8pm), when Albion play their first pre-season friendly in England at Crawley (7.45pm).

Balogun’s extended run with Nigeria means he is unlikely to rejoin Albion before next month’s closing friendly against Valencia and could even miss the visit of the La Liga outfit to the Amex.