West Ham star Said Benrahma is hoping his club’s fans can support Algeria during the AFCON

West Ham’s Said Benrahma is hoping that he’ll have the support of his club’s fans during the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Benrahma has been excellent for the Hammers this season, with eight goals and four assists to show for it as the east London outfit chase both domestic and continental glory.

The 26-year-old will be taking part in his first major tournament in Cameroon, and says he hopes the Irons will keep an eye out and cheer him on.

He told the club’s website: “I have always wanted to be part of international competitions, I play football for that, so I ask them to support me and support Algeria, even if I’m not here.

“I have to answer the call and I really want to do it for the nation and the national team. I’m really proud of that, it will be a first for me.

“I hope they will support me and give me strength, as there are a lot of West Ham fans.

“The support is really huge so I hope they’ll give me all the strength they would give me if I were in West Ham.”

The AFCON has caused some discomfort for Premier League clubs who have had to release players mid-way through the season.

But Benrahma says the AFCON means a lot to players and is one of the best moments in a footballer’s career.

“AFCON is important to me, playing for your country is important,” confirmed the No22, who missed Algeria’s victorious 2019 tournament victory due to injury.

“I’m looking forward to my first international competition and I hope I’ll play.

“First, we are a family, we have a good team, and we all get along, so [winning] the AFCON gave us this strength and I hope it will stay like this, as we have a bright future ahead of us.

“We have to keep going. We won one [AFCON], so why not a second one now?

“But then, we have to give our all, we have the right team, but we respect all the opponents. We know what we can do, so I hope it goes well.

“We want to win, we’re not going there to make up the numbers… we want to win! We want a third star, but then, you have to respect all teams.

“It’s a competition so anything can happen, but we have to keep our momentum, continue what we started and finish well. We’ll be ready, that’s for sure.”