Friendlies - Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic's list of absentees keeps growing (Official) | OneFootball

Friendlies - Algeria: Petkovic releases a third absentee!

Friendlies - Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic's list of absentees keeps growing (Official)

Another blow for the Algerian national team. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has announced that Mohamed Amine Tougaï, central defender for Espérance de Tunis, will miss the upcoming friendlies against Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia. In an official statement, the FAF specified that the decision was made "in consultation with national coach Vladimir Petkovic" in order to avoid aggravating the player's injury and to allow him to continue his recovery with his club.

After a physical issue was detected at the very start of the training camp, Tougaï was deemed unfit to play following a medical examination by the staff. This new withdrawal adds to an already lengthy list: Ramy Bensebaïni, Farès Chaïbi, and Amine Gouiri have also had to pull out for medical reasons. So many absences are forcing Petkovic to rethink his plans just weeks before the 2025 AFCON kicks off in Morocco.

These preparation matches, which were supposed to allow the Bosnian coach to test his tactical choices and fine-tune his starting eleven, are turning into a real headache. Managing the squad has become a major challenge for Petkovic, who now has to work with a depleted but determined group aiming to be fully prepared for the next big continental tournament.