Algeria’s preparations for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) have been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of veteran midfielder Mohamed Benkhemassa due to injury, just three days before their opening match.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) confirmed that winger Tayeb Meziani will replace him in the squad.
Benkhemassa, 32, had been hoping to make a final appearance on the international stage with the home-based national team led by coach Madjid Bougherra.
However, medical tests revealed an injury that will rule him out of the tournament. It is a bitter setback for the experienced midfielder, who had been on the verge of sealing a move to a Qatari club following the competition.
The FAF officially announced on 1 August that Tayeb Meziani will take Benkhemassa’s place in the squad.
While the decision ensures squad depth, it also introduces a tactical shift. Meziani, 28, is not a direct positional replacement for Benkhemassa.
An attacking winger known for his pace and creativity, Meziani offers a different profile that could alter Algeria’s approach heading into the tournament.
A player for MC Alger, Meziani is no stranger to coach Bougherra’s system.
He was part of the squad that lifted the 2021 Arab Cup under Bougherra’s guidance.
His familiarity with the coach’s expectations is expected to ease his integration into the team at such short notice.
Algeria’s first test at CHAN 2025 will be a challenging encounter against Uganda on August 4.
⚪ 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗟- 𝗠𝗢𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗞𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔, 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘́ 𝗡𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗦 𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡 ! ❌
Tayeb Meziani est appelé en renfort pour pallier à l’absence du milieu mouloudéen. 🔄 pic.twitter.com/DV6ulP8Iox
— 🏆 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗗𝘇𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗟𝗙𝗣 🇩🇿 (@arobasedzair_lf) August 1, 2025
Placed in a competitive group alongside South Africa, Guinea, and Niger, the Fennecs will need to adapt quickly to the enforced change in their squad dynamics.
The decision to call up a winger rather than a like-for-like defensive midfielder has raised eyebrows.
It suggests a potential shift towards a more offensive strategy or confidence from the coaching staff that existing midfield options can compensate for Benkhemassa’s absence.
Regardless of the tactical adjustments, the absence of Benkhemassa robs Algeria of a player whose experience and leadership were expected to be vital in a tournament where the ambition is clear: to go one step further than their runners-up finish in the previous edition held on home soil.
For Meziani, the unexpected call-up presents a golden opportunity to reignite his international career and provide Algeria with a new attacking dimension as they aim for CHAN glory.
