Algeria’s national team has suffered another setback ahead of their upcoming international fixtures, with Angers midfielder Himad Abdelli becoming the latest player to withdraw from the squad.
His absence, however, has been overshadowed by controversy in France regarding the circumstances of his injury.
Squad Depleted as Abdelli Joins Growing List of Absentees
Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic initially named a 26-man squad for the upcoming matches, but with Abdelli’s withdrawal, the team has now been reduced to 24 players.
The Angers playmaker joins a growing list of absentees, which already includes Houssem Aouar and Baghdad Bounedjah, both ruled out before the squad announcement. Injuries have also sidelined Mohamed Amine Tougai and Ramiz Zerrouki.
Petkovic has so far made only two replacements: Sohaib Nair coming in for Ismael Bennacer, despite the positional difference, and Oussama Benbot replacing Anthony Mandrea in goal. The coach has indicated his intention to call up an additional defender to reinforce the squad.
Controversy Over Abdelli’s Injury
Abdelli’s withdrawal has sparked debate in France, with speculation surrounding the nature of his injury sustained during Angers’ match against AS Monaco.
The 24-year-old appeared to suffer a thigh issue during a phase of play on Saturday, requiring immediate medical attention before returning to the pitch.
However, his exit from the field led to accusations from certain media sources, suggesting that the injury was a pretext to allow him to break his fast.
These claims have been strongly refuted by Angers SCO, who issued a statement condemning the speculation.
Angers Defends Abdelli
In an official press release, the Ligue 2 club clarified the situation, stating:
“Following the match between Angers SCO and AS Monaco, our player Himad Abdelli suffered a clear injury during a phase of play, leading to immediate treatment by our medical staff.
Hit in the thigh, he was bandaged by our physiotherapists before returning to the match with courage and professionalism.”
Angers also criticized what they described as “unfounded accusations” regarding the player’s intentions, emphasizing that medical examinations conducted by the Algerian national team’s staff confirmed that Abdelli was indeed unfit to join up with his country.
With the controversy surrounding Abdelli’s absence, Algeria now faces the challenge of regrouping with a depleted squad as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures under Petkovic’s leadership.
