Algeria’s hopes of securing qualification for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) have been dealt a significant setback after three players were forced to withdraw just days before their decisive second-leg clash with Gambia.
Centre-back Chouaib Keddad (CR Belouizdad), attacking midfielder Larbi Tabti (MC Alger), and goalkeeper Zakaria Bouhalfaya (CS Constantine) have all exited the national team camp and will play no part in Friday’s return fixture in Annaba.
Keddad and Tabti have sustained injuries, while Bouhalfaya has been sidelined by illness, specifically a flu that has ruled him out of contention.
The trio were named on the bench during the goalless first leg in Bakau but will now be absent from the squad for the reverse fixture scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. local time at Stade du 19 Mai 1956.
Their sudden departures have disrupted head coach Madjid Bougherra’s preparations, prompting a tactical reshuffle during Wednesday night’s training session, which went ahead without the three sidelined players.
The team is scheduled to travel to Annaba in northeastern Algeria on Thursday morning via a special flight, with final preparations for the encounter taking place upon arrival. The late withdrawals come at a particularly critical time as Algeria look to clinch qualification for the tournament’s final phase.
These latest absentees add to what has become a growing list of unavailable players for Bougherra’s squad. Prior to the first leg in Gambia, winger Abderrahmane Meziane (CR Belouizdad) had left the national team camp due to a family emergency.
Although he has since returned to the fold, the team is still without Mohamed Benkhemassa (MC Alger) and Imad-Eddine Azzi (USM Alger), both of whom remain out through injury.
In an effort to bolster the defence, Bougherra has brought in Hocine Benayada (CR Belouizdad) as a replacement for Azzi. Despite these challenges, the coaching staff remains focused on the objective of qualification.
Algeria A’, runners-up in the previous edition of CHAN in 2023, are determined to secure a place in the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 2 to 30 August.
Should they advance, the Fennecs are set to compete in Group C, where they would face Uganda, Niger, Guinea, and the winner of the South Africa vs Malawi play-off.
With qualification on the line and multiple key players unavailable, Algeria must navigate the second leg against Gambia with a depleted squad and minimal margin for error.
The match in Annaba will now carry added pressure as Bougherra looks to guide his team past a resilient Gambian side and into the final phase of Africa’s premier tournament for domestic-based players.
