OM Abdelli injured: the international curse hits Marseille

Marseille's midfielder Himad Abdelli left the field injured during Algeria's qualifying match against Burundi, a tackle forcing him to go off before half‑time and feel pain in his left ankle, prompting the staff to support him. The match was a qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Abdelli started for the Fennecs during the away trip to Burundi. He fell victim to an overly strong tackle, not punished by the referee, before collapsing on the pitch. Algerian coach Brahim Hemdani immediately brought on Adem Zorgane of Union Saint‑Gilloise as a substitute.

Consequences for OM

Abdelli's injury adds to a string of misfortunes that have hit the Phocéens during the international break. Amine Gouiri was already unavailable after getting injured during Algeria's win over Zambia. Derek Cornelius, affected by physical issues with Canada, will be out for several months.

Bruno Genesio, coach of Olympique de Marseille, will look to bounce back after a disastrous start to the season. The Phocéens will face Troyes then Angers in the upcoming Ligue 1 fixtures. Unless a pleasant surprise occurs, Abdelli will not be at 100 % for those matches. The squad will also have to manage the absences of key players to maintain its level.

Algeria's Schedule

Algeria still has to play a friendly against Niger on October 6. The squad will likely be without Abdelli, who joins several teammates in the medical room.

The Algerian staff tended to Abdelli's left ankle for a few moments on the sidelines, without immediately communicating the severity of the injury. The length of his absence remains to be determined.

The international break therefore leaves its mark on the Marseille squad, complicating the team's quest for stability. With several absences, the Phocéens will have to rely on their reserves to try to get back on track.