The Algerian national team received a significant blow before their friendly matches against Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia this month, as it was confirmed that defender Mohamed Amin Tougai, a player for Tunisian club Esperance, will be absent due to a recent injury.

The Algerian Football Federation announced on Tuesday evening that Tougai will not be able to participate in the two friendly matches after undergoing medical examinations that confirmed he is not physically fit to play any matches during the international break.

The federation stated in its announcement that the decision was made in coordination with coach Vladimir Petković, as the technical staff preferred to exclude the player from the current training camp to avoid worsening his condition and to allow him to continue his treatment at his Tunisian club.

The Saudi national team, on the other hand, is preparing for its training camp currently taking place in Jeddah from November 9 to 18, as part of its preparation plan for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, which is set to kick off next December.

The Saudi national team will play two friendly matches during this camp, the first against Ivory Coast on November 14 at the Al-Inma Stadium, and the second against the Algerian national team on November 18 at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.

Coach Petkovic hopes to overcome Tougai's absence by relying on ready defensive alternatives to fill the gap, while the Algerian national team aims to test as many players as possible before the upcoming official competitions.