Hicham Boudaoui set to miss Algeria’s last two World Cup qualifiers after hip injury

Algeria will be without Hicham Boudaoui in their crucial final two games of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a setback that leaves fans and teammates disappointed.

The midfielder’s absence comes at a delicate moment for the Desert Foxes, who are eager to secure their place on football’s biggest stage.

The 26-year-old was forced off during OGC Nice’s 1-1 home draw with Paris FC on Saturday. He suffered a hip bone injury and had to leave at halftime. While initial scans revealed no major damage, doctors advised specialized treatment, keeping him sidelined for now.

Boudaoui was already missing from Nice’s squad list for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe in Istanbul. His omission confirmed the growing concern over his fitness and ruled him out of Algeria’s squad.

Algeria will now face Somalia on October 9 at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran before meeting Uganda on October 14 at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou without their Béchar-born talent.