The Algerian Football Federation’s announcement of Amine Gouiri’s withdrawal due to injury for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has sparked a heated exchange between Algeria’s coach Djamel Belmadi and Stade Rennais manager Julien Stéphan.
Gouiri, who was set to make a significant contribution to the Algerian national team in his debut major competition, withdrew on Monday citing knee pain.
However, the conflicting narratives surrounding the player’s injury have created a tense situation between the national team’s coaching staff and Stade Rennais.
Djamel Belmadi accused Stade Rennais of delayed communication regarding Gouiri’s condition, stating, “He arrived at our house with knee pain.
Strangely, we received a press release from Stade Rennais following our request since it was the player himself who told us that he had this knee pain that we were unaware of since his last match was on December 20.”
Belmadi continued to express his disappointment, explaining the sequence of events, “He came to us to have this injury noted and to see if he could give himself the chance of participating in the African Cup of Nations by taking care of him by our medical staff, but apparently, he couldn’t get past this pain. So we released him.”
In response, Julien Stéphan presented a different perspective during a press conference, stating, “There was immediate communication between the Stade Rennais staff and the selection staff, so the elements were given at that time.
Amine will follow a medical protocol to recover, which will keep him away from the field for several weeks. For exactly how long, we don’t yet know.”
The conflicting accounts between Belmadi and Stéphan highlight the tensions surrounding Gouiri’s withdrawal, raising questions about the communication process between the player, the club, and the national team.
As the Algerian team prepares for the AFCON without Gouiri, the situation adds an unexpected layer of drama and uncertainty to their campaign in the tournament.
