Algeria’s national team coach, Vladimir Petkovic, was forced to exclude one of his star players from participating with the Desert Warriors in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off next Sunday.
According to the Algerian Football Federation, Houssem Aouar suffered a muscle injury that forced him to leave the national team’s training camp for the tournament.
The statement revealed that Aouar sustained the injury during Algeria’s training session on Thursday. He subsequently underwent comprehensive medical examinations which concluded that he would be unable to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, and thus he was excluded from Petkovic’s squad.
Algeria compensated for Aouar’s absence by calling up 26-year-old Haimad Abdelli to bolster Petkovic’s attack in the upcoming African championship.
The Algerian national team begins its Africa Cup of Nations campaign next Wednesday against Sudan, followed by a match against Burkina Faso. The group stage will conclude with a match against Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, December 31.
