RABAT: Algeria have been dealt a blow to their Africa Cup of Nations hopes with the withdrawal of key midfielder Houssem Aouar on Friday.
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He was injured in training on Thursday, an Algerian football federation statement said, and will be replaced for the tournament in Morocco by Himad Abdelli from French club Angers. No details of the injury were given.
Aouar, who won a cap for France before switching his international allegiance to Algeria, played at the last Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast two years ago where Algeria were shock early casualties.
In Morocco, Algeria compete in Group E, starting against Sudan in Rabat on Wednesday before playing Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.
