English and Scottish clubs have been affected by the Algeria Football Federation decision to start camping early ahead of the Orange Nations Cup.
Scottish Premier League leaders Glasgow Rangers are mostly affected as their Algerian international defender Madjid Bougherra, would not be available when the club face bitter rivals Celtic on January 3.
The Algerian football authorities have ordered its England and Scotland-based players, invited to take part in the 2010 African Nations Cup, that they can only fulfill their club commitments until December 30.
Bougherra can play for Rangers on Sunday against Hibernian, but not against Celtic on January 3 despite pressure from his boss Walter Smith.
Algeria, who have also qualified for the World Cup, will take part in the African Nations Cup from January 10-31 in Angola, with the some of the squad due to assemble in the south of France for a training camp from Saturday.
“A training session will also take place from January 1-7 which all players are expected to attend,” said a federation source.
In the English Premier League, Portsmouth duo Hassan Yebda and Nadir Belhadj are expected to play on Monday against Arsenal. At the African Nations Cup, Algeria are in Group A with Angola, Mali and Malawi.