Injury to Hadj Moussa and Mazza hits Algeria ahead of Togo clash

Algeria have received a double blow ahead of their anticipated clash with Togo, as the Algerian Football Federation announced today, Sunday, the absence of the duo Anis Hadj Moussa and Ibrahim Maza for the fourth round of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers due to injury.

Anis Hadj Moussa was one of the standout players for Algeria in the first leg, providing the assist for the only goal scored by Ramy Bensebaini in a 1-0 victory for the 'Desert Warriors' on Saturday, in the third round of Group 9. However, he will not be able to participate in the return leg scheduled for next Tuesday.

Ibrahim Maza started the match but left the pitch 10 minutes before the end, with medical tests later confirming he would not be able to participate in the next match.

The Algerian Football Federation clarified in a statement published on its official account on the 'X' platform that the players suffered ankle sprains during the match against Togo, which took place at the Hussein Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou.

The statement added that the medical examinations undergone by the players this Sunday morning confirmed their absence from the return match, thus confirming the loss of Algeria's national team for the services of two important players before traveling to Togo.

Algeria lead Group 9 in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with 7 points, gathered from three matches, 3 points ahead of second-placed Zambia.