Ines Boutaleb’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations ends with serious ankle injury

Ines Boutaleb will miss the rest of Algeria’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign after suffering a serious ankle sprain in the 2-0 group-stage victory over Kenya.

The forward, one of Algeria’s attacking options, was injured after being fouled during the match against the Kenyans. Her tournament is now over, meaning she will not feature in Saturday’s quarter-final against Cote d’Ivoire.

Boutaleb’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been disrupted from the outset. She was unavailable for Algeria’s opening match against Senegal before returning to action as a substitute against Morocco.

Algeria manager Farid Benstiti subsequently handed her a starting place for the final game of the group stage against Kenya, hoping the decision would help her gradually regain match fitness.

However, her comeback lasted only a short time. The ankle injury has now brought her involvement in the competition to a definitive end, forcing Algeria to continue without another attacking option as they enter the most important stage of their campaign.

The Vertes began the tournament with a 2-0 win over Senegal and followed it with another 2-0 victory against Kenya. Their only defeat in the opening round came against Morocco, who won 1-0.

That record was enough to carry Algeria into the knockout phase, but Boutaleb’s absence leaves their attack with one fewer option at a point when small details could prove decisive.

Algeria are now one match away from a major achievement. Reaching the semi-finals would also secure the national team’s qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, which would represent a historic first for Algeria.

Boutaleb will have to watch that attempt from the stands. Her tournament began with a withdrawal from the squad for the Senegal match, continued with a return from the bench against Morocco and then saw her restored to the starting line-up against Kenya.

Instead of helping Algeria in the quarter-final, she now faces the disappointment of seeing her 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign end through injury. The setback comes just as the side prepares for a decisive meeting with Cote d’Ivoire and the possibility of reaching the semi-finals, while also moving closer to an unprecedented place at the Women’s World Cup.