International Recap: Foxes busy with their national teams

While Leicester City may have had the weekend off, there was still plenty of action for fans to keep track of. Six different Foxes featured for their national teams, meanwhile two others (and one coach) remained on the bench for their sides.

The Africa Cup of Nations qualifying stage included action from Ahmed Musa, Daniel Amartey, Islam Slimani, and Riyad Mahrez, while Wes Morgan, Bartosz Kapustka, Danny Drinkwater, and Jamie Vardy all participated in World Cup qualifying.

Musa’s Nigeria Super Eagles defeated Tanzania by a score of 1-0, while Amartey’s Ghana Black Stars drew 1-1 with Rwanda. The teams finished second and first in their respective groups.

Elsewhere, City skipper Wes Morgan put in a full 90-minute shift for Jamaica in a 2-0 loss to Panama. Although they have one game remaining, the defeat means the Reggae Boyz have been eliminated from World Cup contention.

In Astana, Poland starlet and Leicester summer signing Bartosz Kapustka got off the mark early with a 9th minute goal against Kazakhstan. A well-timed run was rewarded with a curling ball in that met his feet right in front of goal. The 19-year-old made no mistake and smoothly slotted it in past the keeper.

Poland would go on to surrender a two-goal lead and draw 2-2 in what will surely be a disappointing result for fans of the team.

Meanwhile, both Jami Vardy and Danny Drinkwater went unused in Sam Allardyce’s debut as England manager. The match, however, marked Leicester assistant Craig Shakespeare’s first appearance with the national team.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

A stubborn 10-man Slovakia squad held the Three Lions in check until a dramatic 95th minute winner by Adam Lallana sealed it. While Jamie Vardy’s energy and pace seemed to be missing on the pitch, a win should be enough to ease Big Sam for now.

Lastly, Riyad Mahrez and City newcomer Islam Slimani led Algeria past an overmatched Lesotho squad. Both men played pivotal roles in the 6-0 victory that saw the team finish five points clear at the top of their group.

Riyad showed his quality, scoring a brace that included both a stunning first-half free kick, and a simple top-of-the-box finish in the second half.

Slimani also displayed many of the qualities that make his acquisition so exciting for the Foxes. The forward made a Vardy-esque run towards the end of the first half that saw him beat his defender and round the keeper, only to hit the far post from a tight angle. Moments later he delivered a magnificent cross to Hilal Soudani who headed it home for the fourth goal of the game.

The action isn’t done yet, however. On Monday Andy King and Wales will take on Moldova in a World Cup qualifying match in Cardiff.