Algeria loses two key players before Togo match
Forward Mohamed Bachir Belloumi and defender Jaouen Hadjam are out with injuries for the CAN 2027 qualifiers.
Algeria's national football team will be without key players Mohamed Bachir Belloumi and Jaouen Hadjam for their upcoming CAN 2027 qualifying matches against Togo. The team, known as the Fennecs, faces Togo on November 14 in Tizi-Ouzou and again on November 17 in Lomé. Both players have been starters since coach Brahim Hemdani took charge in September.
The Algerian Football Federation confirmed that both Belloumi, an attacker for Hull City, and Hadjam, a defender for Brighton, are sidelined due to injuries. Goalkeeper Abdellatif Ramdane was also released from the squad by Hemdani following the death of his father. Defender Fahem Benaïssa-Yahia, who plays for Italy's Mantova 1911, has been called up to replace Hadjam.
Benaïssa, 24, is a versatile defender making his first appearance for the national team. Goalkeeper Rayane Yeseli of Olympique Akbou was summoned to replace Ramdane. No replacement has been named for Mohamed Bachir Belloumi. The Fennecs are preparing for the matches on November 14 and November 17.