Algeria’s Adil Bourabaa ruled out of Togo double-header with ankle injury

Adil Bourabaa will miss Algeria’s upcoming ties against Togo after suffering an ankle injury during his international debut against Niger.

The 21-year-old Le Mans midfielder was included in Brahim Hemdani’s first Algeria squad after making a rapid impact in Ligue 1. Hemdani then handed him his first appearance for the national team in the 2-1 friendly win over Niger in Tizi-Ouzou on 6 October.

However, Bourabaa is now unavailable for the next Fennecs gathering, according to comments from his club manager Patrick Videira.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, the day before Le Mans’ Ligue 1 trip to Paris Saint-Germain, Videira said the versatile midfielder was expected to be out for at least a month because of the ankle problem sustained against Niger. Further medical examinations are still to take place.

Bourabaa came on from the bench for around 20 minutes against Niger and had to complete the match while managing the pain. He is therefore not expected to be selected for Algeria’s two meetings with Togo on 14 and 17 November in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The injury interrupts a remarkable rise for the Drancy-born player, who progressed from the lower divisions to the top flight in the space of a single season.

Before joining up with Algeria, Bourabaa had started all five of Le Mans’ possible Ligue 1 matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists. His performances had earned him a first international call-up before the setback suffered on his debut.