Houssem Aouar will play no part in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament before a ball was kicked.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder, who sustained the injury ahead of the competition, left the Algeria squad and returned to Saudi Arabia, where he will continue his recovery with Al Ittihad.
His withdrawal mirrors that of his close friend and former Lyon teammate Amine Gouiri, who also pulled out of the tournament. Algeria have since called up Himad Abdelli as Aouar’s replacement.
Al Ittihad head coach Sergio Conceição confirmed that both club and country worked together to reach the decision.
Speaking about the situation, Conceição made clear that medical discussions guided the outcome.
“Houssem Aouar is injured and unavailable for the match against Nasaf. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him return as soon as possible.
The decision to recall him came jointly from the national team’s medical staff and our own,” he said.
The confirmation ended any uncertainty surrounding Aouar’s absence and underlined the collaborative approach between the Algerian Football Federation and the Saudi club.
Medical staff from both sides assessed the player’s condition and agreed that withdrawal offered the safest option.
Aouar’s international journey began on 18 June 2023, when he received his first call-up to the Algeria national team.
He later featured at the Africa Cup of Nations originally scheduled for 2023 but held in 2024.
Since then, he has earned 18 caps and scored five goals for the Desert Foxes, establishing himself as a technically gifted option in midfield.
However, injuries have disrupted his rhythm over recent months. In 2025 alone, Aouar has appeared in only four matches for the national side, limiting his ability to build consistency and influence.
That pattern played a role in the cautious approach taken by both medical teams ahead of AFCON 2025.
For Algeria, the loss of Aouar represents a setback, particularly given his creativity and experience at international level.
The coaching staff now turn their focus to integrating Abdelli and maintaining balance within the squad as the tournament unfolds.
For Aouar, attention shifts fully to recovery. From Saudi Arabia, he will follow the progress of his teammates, hoping to return to full fitness and rejoin the national setup once his condition allows.
