Algeria suffer two more withdrawals as Hemdani’s squad is reduced to 22

Brahim Hemdani’s first Algeria squad has been hit by two further withdrawals, with Anis Hadj Moussa and Adem Zorgane ruled out of Tuesday’s friendly against Niger.

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) confirmed on Friday that both players had been released from international duty, leaving the new head coach with another selection headache before the final match of the current FIFA window.

Hadj Moussa sustained a “minor injury” during Algeria’s 3-1 victory over Zambia on the opening matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The winger came off the bench and scored in that match, but his injury ruled him out of Tuesday’s 2-2 draw away to Burundi.

Zorgane, meanwhile, was injured during the Burundi match. The midfielder had been introduced shortly before half-time after Himad Abdelli was forced off, but he will now miss Algeria’s next fixture.

The latest absences add to an already lengthy list of players unavailable to Hemdani. Nabil Bentaleb withdrew shortly after the squad was announced, while Amine Gouiri suffered an injury during the victory against Zambia. Rayan Ait-Nouri was also removed from the group for disciplinary reasons.

There is still uncertainty over Abdelli’s condition. He was seen on crutches after the match in Burundi but remains with his team-mates for the time being.

Hemdani originally called up 26 players and now has only 22 available. Bentaleb is the only player to have been replaced, meaning the latest departures further reduce the options open to the new Algeria manager.

The Fennecs will complete this international period against Niger on Tuesday 6 October in Tizi Ouzou. The match will give Hemdani an opportunity to respond to an unconvincing display in Burundi, where Algeria quickly found themselves 2-0 behind before recovering to draw.

Algeria will face Niger, known as the Mena, without a number of established figures. Aissa Mandi and Riyad Mahrez have retired from international football, while Luca Zidane and Rafik Belghali were not selected for this gathering because they are suspended.

The national team is therefore expected to field a significantly changed line-up for the friendly, with Hemdani forced to work with a much smaller group than the one he initially selected.