Despite missing Algeria’s campaign in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations due to a lingering shoulder injury, Marseille striker Amine Gouiri remains fully engaged with his national team’s journey.
The forward, sidelined for months, recently returned to action in the French Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, starting the match before being substituted in the 67th minute.
While his performance was promising, it could not prevent PSG from claiming victory on penalties. Now, Gouiri is focused on supporting his teammates from the stands as they prepare to face Nigeria in the quarter-finals.
Gouiri has missed the Africa Cup of Nations finals twice, having also sat out the previous edition in Ivory Coast, yet his commitment to the national squad remains unwavering.
“I am following every match closely. They will play the next game on Saturday, and if I have the time, I will try to be there,” Gouiri said, hinting at a potential trip to Marrakech to cheer on the team in person.
The striker highlighted the team’s blend of youth and experience as a key factor in their strong showing so far.
“We have a fantastic generation of young players alongside experienced veterans. We have all the ingredients for success,” he noted.
Gouiri also praised Yacine Boulimina’s goal against DR Congo, calling it “exceptional” and celebrating the bench players’ contributions, which underscore Algeria’s depth.
While Gouiri expressed disappointment at losing the French Super Cup, he remained optimistic about the team’s broader potential.
“We proved we can compete with the best. We just lacked efficiency in front of goal, and that made the difference. But Algeria is strong, and we have what it takes to succeed,” he said.
