Two days before the kickoff of CAN 2025 in Morocco, Algeria adjusts its roster. On December 19, 2025, Houssem Aouar withdrew due to an injury during training, and Vladimir Petković called up Himad Abdelli (Angers SCO) as reinforcement for this CAN 2025. The attacking midfielder must join the group as soon as possible, as the Fennecs start on December 24 in Rabat: Algeria — Sudan.
A last-minute replacement as the tournament approaches
The Algerian group engaged in CAN 2025 is already evolving. On December 19, 2025, the Algerian Federation confirmed the withdrawal of Houssem Aouar, injured during training, and proceeded with his replacement. To compensate for this absence, coach Vladimir Petković called up Himad Abdelli, an attacking midfielder from Angers SCO, who was previously absent from the list.
The change comes two days before the start of the competition in Morocco. On the sporting side, Algeria loses a player established in the rotation. However, they recall a profile already followed by the staff. Logistically, Abdelli must quickly join the gathering. Thus, he can integrate into a group already focused on their first match.
In a final phase, these adjustments are part of the daily routine: the announced list is never completely fixed until the first kickoff. But each withdrawal has a cost, as preparation is short. Indeed, automatisms are built in training, sometimes in just a few sessions.
What Aouar’s absence implies for the Algerian midfield
The management has not detailed the exact nature of Houssem Aouar‘s injury. However, the mere fact of confirming a withdrawal, on the eve of a tournament, indicates an unavailability. Indeed, it is deemed incompatible with the sequence of matches.
Aouar’s position, capable of playing centrally and between the lines, weighs on the team’s balance: he provides a link between recovery and the final pass and can also project forward. His absence forces Petković to reorganize, either by redefining roles in the midfield or by adjusting the offensive setup.
The call-up of Himad Abdelli represents a pragmatic response: rather than a gamble, Algeria chooses a player from the same area, accustomed to the pace of club competitions in France and already familiar with the demands of an international group.
Abdelli, a coherent choice after an initial non-selection
The call-up of Himad Abdelli has a particular flavor, as the player had not been included in the initial list announced for the final phase. In the days leading up to Aouar’s withdrawal, the coach had emphasized the density in the midfield and the need to make decisions.
The logic, in essence, remains that of major competitions: many players are judged to be close, then an injury or suspension shifts the hierarchy. In this area of the field, where both accuracy and impact are sought, the choice is often limited. Indeed, finding an adequate replacement can prove difficult.
For Abdelli, the challenge is immediate: integrate collective benchmarks in a few sessions. Moreover, he must assimilate instructions and make himself available. Sometimes, this is done without the prospect of a major role from the start. In this type of tournament, a substitution during a match can quickly redistribute the minutes. Additionally, a card, fatigue, or a physical alert can also influence this distribution.
Group E CAN 2025: Algeria’s schedule (dates, stadiums, cities)
Algeria has been placed in Group E with Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea. The group matches lead the Fennecs to immediately project themselves into a very tight CAN 2025 schedule: the first match comes quickly and does not allow much time to "get up to speed."
According to CAF, Algeria’s schedule at CAN 2025 is as follows:
- December 24, 2025: Algeria — Sudan, at the Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex (Rabat).
- December 28, 2025: Algeria — Burkina Faso, at the Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex (Rabat).
- December 31, 2025: Equatorial Guinea–Algeria, at the Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex (Rabat).
For the public, these three dates offer a simple reading. Indeed, Algeria plays during the holiday season. Moreover, the schedule is tight, and the stakes become clear from the second day. The match Algeria — Burkina Faso, scheduled for December 28, could notably weigh on the outcome of the group.
CAN 2025 in Morocco: key dates and general framework
CAN 2025 takes place in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. The competition is set in a particular end-of-year month: the national teams play matches while clubs usually transition to another sporting timeline.
The opening match is scheduled for December 21, 2025, with the host country headlining. The final is set for January 18, 2026 in Rabat, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex.
Portrait: Himad Abdelli, from Le Havre to Angers, and the call of the Fennecs
Himad Abdelli, 26 years old, embodies a patient trajectory. Having gone through training at Havre AC, he has progressed in a football world where attacking midfielders are often judged on the spot: an assist, a goal, an action. Abdelli has settled into a role of connection, between work without the ball and the ability to carry the game.
At Angers, his role is seen in the details: making himself available, directing, accelerating when space opens up, and returning when the block needs to tighten. This type of profile does not mechanically replace another player: it offers solutions and sometimes requires shifting a line or modifying an animation.
In the national team, the story is more recent. Being called up a few days before a CAN highlights what the national team expects from complementary players. Indeed, it demands immediate availability and a willingness to integrate without disrupting the balance. Moreover, it is necessary to take over during a match sequence if needed.
Aouar, a missing piece as Algeria seeks stability
The withdrawal of Houssem Aouar is a setback because the player brings a profile that Algeria does not always have in abundance: a midfielder capable of alternating between dribbling, passing, and offensive presence, without neglecting central tasks.
Beyond the player, it is a tactical option that disappears as the tournament approaches. In a short competition, a plan is often prepared for each opponent. Thus, the loss of a versatile midfielder reduces the room for maneuver. The staff must then rely more on internal adjustments: redistribution of roles, alternation of profiles, or finer management of playing time.
Petković, group management faced with physical uncertainties
Like all coaches approaching a final phase, Vladimir Petković faces a simple fact: preparation is done with one list, and the competition sometimes starts with another. Replacing a player at the last moment is not just about a name on a sheet: it requires integrating a rhythm, instructions, and occasionally a technical relationship with partners.
The coach must maintain the coherence of a game plan and automatisms while absorbing an absence. It is a balancing act: avoiding turning a constraint into a permanent issue and preserving the group’s serenity before entering the competition.
What to expect in the coming days
In the short term, the essential is clear: Abdelli must join the group and reach the intensity level of the gathering. The staff, in turn, must specify his use: rotation solution, end-of-match option, or a more structuring alternative if the midfield needs to be rebalanced.
For Algeria, the immediate goal remains the same: to start well on December 24 against Sudan, then approach the match against Burkina Faso as a potentially decisive meeting. The CAN is played in short sequences. An injury, an adjustment, a last-minute call-up: all of this is part of the setting. The important thing, in the end, is to turn these uncertainties into collective continuity.