Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi has conclusively confirmed that striker Mohamed Amine Amoura will miss their Africa Cup Of Nations opener against Angola due to an accumulation of yellow cards in qualifying.
Amoura received bookings across three matches during Algeria’s successful AFCON 2023 qualifying campaign earlier this year.
With the 22-year old picking up two cautions against Tanzania last June, before another against Mozambique in November, Amoura slid into disciplinary trouble.
Despite conflicting interpretations of CAF statutes regarding carryover suspensions, Belmadi erased any debate by declaring Amoura definitively banned for Algeria’s first Group D match on January 15th.
The revelation compounds a frustrating day after versatile forward Amine Gouiri was ruled out of the tournament altogether through injury.
Missing Amoura for the crucial Angola clash robs Algeria of more attacking potency as they begin the defence of the title they won in 2019.
Currently excelling for Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise this season with 13 goals, Amoura earned his first Algeria cap back in June during the qualifiers.
But by totting up too many petty infringements beforehand, the new Desert Fox will frustratingly sit out their opening Group D test.
For Belmadi, Amoura’s absence gives greater impetus for other attackers to step up and lead the goal charge if Algeria is to safely progress towards a potential knockout reunion with their talented young forward.
