Gouiri's absence threatens OM during the international break
Amine Gouiri left the Algerian national team after injuring his quadriceps during the match against Zambia, playing only eighteen minutes before being replaced by Amin Chiakha, while Algeria won 3‑1 in Tizi‑Ouzou and left OM worried ahead of the upcoming international break.
Algeria's medical decision
According to sources quoted by Al‑Hayat TV, the Algerian medical staff decided to release Gouiri due to his injury sustained during the qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON. The player underwent extensive medical examinations on Saturday in Tizi‑Ouzou to determine the nature of the problem. Following these examinations, the doctors preferred not to take any risk and will not count on him for the upcoming international fixtures.
After the match, manager Brahim Hemdani said at a press conference: “We are on alert. We will wait until tomorrow to make a statement. He has a discomfort in the left thigh quadriceps.” He added that the medical monitoring was immediate and that the final decision would be made as soon as the results are available.
Consequences for OM
In Marseille, Gouiri’s absence comes at a critical moment, as he already has four goals and one assist in five Ligue 1 matches, after starting the game against Zambia as a starter. He was only able to play eighteen minutes before being replaced by Amin Chiakha, making his loss even more detrimental. Bruno Genesio will therefore have to line up without his reference striker, which complicates the management of the attack. The medical verdict, eagerly awaited, will determine the length of his unavailability.
This is not the first time that OM has had to cope with the loss of a scorer, Derek Cornelius also having left the Algerian national team due to injury in a previous match. These two successive absences heighten the concerns of the Marseille staff, who fear a shortage of offensive options.
The international break, which begins immediately after the match against Zambia, could bring another unpleasant surprise for OM if the diagnosis confirms a long recovery for Gouiri. The club is therefore awaiting the results of the examinations to adjust its squad before the league resumes, aware that every match counts in the race for the standings.
While awaiting the verdict, uncertainty hangs over OM’s attack, reminding of the fragility of a team already tested by recent absences. Bruno Genesio’s staff hopes for a favorable outcome to avoid an offensive crisis during the pause, while supporters monitor every piece of information.