Injury to Hjam and Bloumi opens the door for Fahim Ben Aissa with Algeria

Ibrahim Hamdani, the coach of the Algeria national team, has had to make a change to the squad of the "Greens" in preparation for the matches against Togo, after deciding to exclude the duo Jwan Hjam, a Brighton player, and Mohamed Al-Bashir Beloumi, a Hull City star, due to injury. He has called up Fahem Ben Aissa, the left-back from Montova in Italy, to replace Hjam.

The decision to exclude the players came after they underwent medical examinations under the supervision of the national team's medical staff, which confirmed their unfitness to participate in the upcoming matches, allowing the duo to leave the national team camp held at the Sidi Moussa center and return to their clubs.

Hajjam joined the camp while suffering from an injury, undergoing necessary tests that proved he was unable to continue training. Meanwhile, Hamdani initially insisted on the presence of Beloumi despite the statements from his coach at Hull City, Sergey Yakerovitch, regarding the player's injury that would keep him out of action for three weeks, preferring to subject him to thorough examinations before making a decision, which ultimately resulted in his exclusion as well.

In contrast, the coaching staff has decided to call up Fahim Ben Aissa, who was part of the expanded squad for the national team, to receive his first invitation to join the senior national team, after previously representing Algeria at youth levels.

Fahem Ben Aissa outshines Mehdi Dorval.

Montova's defender was chosen over Mehdi Dorval, the Bari player, who was also in the coaching staff's considerations. However, Ben Aissa's regular participation with his team during the current season tipped the scales in his favor for the call-up.

The 24-year-old has played all 13 matches for Montova in the Italian Serie B this season, without missing any game, confirming his regular presence in the starting lineup for his team, and becoming the only specialist left-back in this position in the current national team roster.

Ben Aïssa is expected to arrive at the Sidi Moussa center in the coming hours to join his first camp with the national team, aiming to seize the opportunity and prove his abilities to the coaching staff, ahead of the matches against Togo on November 14 and 17, as part of the third and fourth rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 2027.

Fahem Ben Aissa is 24 years old, having been born in France on April 29, 2002. He stands at 1.88 meters tall and excels in the left-back position, with the ability to also play in defensive midfield.

The player began his football career in France, where he progressed through the youth ranks of Stade Reims, before experiencing stints with several other French clubs, including Olympique Lyon and Villefranche.