Algerian national team player Amine Gouiri has suffered a muscle injury and will not join the team for the upcoming match against Burundi. Gouiri was substituted out of the team's previous match against Zambia due to the injury, which was confirmed by medical exams on Saturday. The Olympique de Marseille player will not travel with the team to Bujumbura for the second-day match of Group I in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The injury occurred after a clash with the Zambian goalkeeper during the match against Zambia. Gouiri lasted only 18 minutes on the pitch before being substituted out as a precautionary measure. The medical staff judged the risk of aggravating the injury too high and decided to replace him. Despite the setback, Algeria won the match 3-1, with Brahim Hemdani marking a victorious debut as coach.
This is not the first time Gouiri has been sidelined due to an injury. In October 2025, he suffered a back injury during a match against Uganda and was out for several weeks. He missed the Africa Cup of Nations and only returned to competition on January 4. Gouiri's absence will be felt by the team, as he is a key player and one of the main offensive solutions for Algeria.
Coach Brahim Hemdani is facing a growing list of absentees, with Nabil Bentaleb already ruled out before the start of the training camp. Adil Bourabaâ was called up as a replacement, and Hemdani also had to deal with a disciplinary issue involving Rayan Aït Nouri, who was excluded from the squad after the match against Zambia.
Algeria will face Burundi on September 29 in Bujumbura, with only two spots available for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The team cannot afford to slip up, and Hemdani will have to find a way to cope without Gouiri's attacking prowess. The Olympique de Marseille player will return to Marseille for further treatment and assessment of his injury.
The duration of Gouiri's absence is not yet clear, but his participation in the upcoming match against Niger is already in doubt. The medical staff at Olympique de Marseille will oversee his treatment and provide updates on his condition. This setback comes as a blow to Algeria's hopes in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria's national team has a busy schedule ahead, and Hemdani will have to make adjustments to his squad to compensate for Gouiri's absence. The team's performance against Zambia was encouraging, but the coach will need to find a way to maintain the team's momentum without one of its key players.
Key points
- Algeria's Amine Gouiri out with muscle injury
- Gouiri to miss Burundi match, participation in Niger match doubtful
- Algeria faces Burundi in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 29
